A Dhaka Court on Sunday fixed Nov 7 for argument in the money laundering case against BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman and his business partner Giasuddin-Al-Mamun.
Judge Md Motahar Hossain of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-3 passed the order after rejecting a defense plea to defer the argument on the ground that three defense witnesses were abroad for treatment.
The court so far heard the depositions of 13 prosecution witnesses. It also heard five defense witnesses on Oct 31.Defense counsel Masud Ahmed Talukder told the court that three of their witnesses, Babul Kazi, Earshad Karim, and Harun-or-Rashid are now in India and Singapore for their treatment.
The case details say that the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against Tarique and Mamun with Dhaka Cantonment Police Station on Oct 26, 2009, accusing the two of “siphoning off Tk 21.42 crore to Singapore” between 2003 and 2007.
The court framed charges against the duo on August 8, 2011. According to the case statement, Mamun took Tk 204,125,843 from Khadiza Islam, owner of Nirman Construction Ltd with a promise to give her work of 80 Megawatt Power Station in Tongi.
The court indicted Tarique and Mamun under the Money Laundering Act 2002 and issued an arrest warrant against Tarique. Mamun allegedly deposited the money into the Capital Street Branch of a Singapore bank. – Court Correspondent
