Produce Tarique on Mar 4, court tells his lawyer

A Dhaka court has ordered the lawyer for Tarique Rahman to produce the BNP senior vice-chairman before it on Mar 4 for hearings on two corruption cases.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of Dhaka’s Special Judge Court-3 issued the order on Wednesday in the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust corruption cases involving alleged embezzlement of over Tk 50 million.

The court also issued arrest warrants for Tarique’s mother and BNP chief Khaleda Zia and two others as they did not appear before it on two dates.

Former prime minister Khaleda, Tarique and four others are accused in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case involving misappropriation of Tk 21.07 million.

The Anti Corruption Commission prosecuted the six on July 3, 2008 and the makeshift special court established on Dhaka Alia Madrasa ground in the capital framed charges against them on Mar 19 last year.

Tarique left Dhaka for London in 2008 on a High Court bail for medical treatment and is living in the UK with his family since then.

Tarique’s lawyer Sanaullah Mia had been appearing before the court for him.

After the court completed recording depositions of the plaintiff, ACC Deputy Director Harun-ur-Rashid, on Wednesday, commission lawyer Mosharraf Hossain Kajol pleaded for order asking Tarique to appear in court.

He said the BNP vice chairman went abroad for treatment. “We’ve come to know that he has recovered. Now he needs to be produced before the court in the interest of the trial.”

Kajol told bdnews24.com: “Tarique’s lawyer Sanaullah Mia had been appearing before the court for him under the relevant section of the Criminal Procedure Code since he is living abroad.

“The judge asked his lawyer to ensure his (Tarique) appearance in person.”