Tarique Rahman's mother-in-law secures bail in graft case

A Dhaka court has granted bail to BNP leader Tarique Rahman's mother-in-law Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu in a 2014 graft case started by the Anti-Corruption Commission or ACC.

Senior Special Judge Kamrul Hossain Molla passed the order after Banu surrendered to the court on Sunday.

Although it is mandatory to be in the dock after surrender, Banu remained inside the ambulance that transported her to the court premises. Her lawyer AJ Mohammad Ali said she could not climb the stairs for health reasons.

On Apr 12, the court issued an arrest warrant against Banu who stands accused of not filing her wealth statement following an ACC notice.

Banu is the wife of former Navy chief Rear Admiral Mahbub Ali Khan. Their daughter Zubaida Rahman and BNP chief Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman tied the knot in 1993.

ACC prosecuted Tarique in 2007 for illegally amassing around Tk 48.1 million and hiding wealth-relation information.

Tarique’s wife Zubaida and mother-in-law Banu were named in the case later that year for “helping Tarique earn the illegal wealth and concealing information.”

BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique has been living in London for the past nine years. He is facing arrest warrants in dozens of cases.

Last year, ACC Deputy Director Abdus Sattar submitted charges against Banu to Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.

Banu filed a writ petition challenging the chargesheet but got turned down by the High Court.

She may face three years of imprisonment or fine if found guilty.