Tarique-Zubaida graft case: Tussle between lawyers disrupts proceedings

Published : Tuesday, 30 May, 2023 at 11:01 PM Count : 2080

On the 10th day of recording testimony in a graft case against BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman, pro-Awami League and pro-BNP lawyers locked into unseemly clashes on Tuesday.

The two sides held each other responsible for the clashes which left several injured.

Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md. Asaduzzaman was compelled to leave the court-room due to the hue-cry among the lawyers at noon, UNB reports.

Later in the evening, the judge re-entered the court-room and started recording the testimony.

Chartered Accountant AK Abdul Matin of ‘Matin & Co.’ testified in the case as the seventh witness. Earlier six witnesses testified.

So far, seven out of the 56 witnesses in the case have testified. However, none of the witnesses have to face cross-examination as the accused are absconding.

The court has set Wednesday (May 31) for the next date of hearing.

The trial began on May 21 with the statement of ACC Deputy Director Zahirul Huda.

Earlier, on April 13, a Dhaka court framed charges against Tarique Rahman and Zubaida in the graft case.

On November 01, 2022, a Dhaka court issued arrest warrants for Tarique and Zubaida in the graft case.

The court also ordered to give notice in the newspaper to appear before the court on January 19.

On June 26, the High Court ordered the judicial court to dispose of the case as soon as possible.

On September 26, 2007, the ACC lodged a complaint with Kafrul police against Tarique Rahman, Zubaida and her mother Iqbal Mand Banu for acquiring wealth worth Tk 4.81 crore beyond their known sources of income and concealing information in their affidavits.