Graft case against BNP leader Tarique Rahman’s mother-in-law dismissed

The Supreme Court has dismissed a case by the Anti-Corruption Commission or ACC against Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu, the mother-in-law of BNP leader Tarique Rahman.

The graft watchdog prosecuted her for not responding to a notice to submit her asset details.

The Appellate Division has, however, ordered the ACC to issue a new notice.

A bench led by the chief justice gave the order on Thursday after disposing of a leave-to-appeal plea by Banu.

ACC counsel Khurshid Alam Khan told reporters the case has been dismissed and that the ACC has been ordered to issue a new notice for her wealth statement.

“Iqbal Mand Banu was not in the country at the time of the notice,” said Banu’s lawyer Barrister Kaisar Kamal. “It was instead left with her house's caretaker, so the court scrapped the case.”

Though the chargesheet in the case was submitted a year-and-a-half ago, the indictment hearing has been repeatedly delayed and was scheduled for Aug 16 this year.

On Apr 12, the trial court ordered Banu's arrest. She appeared before the court on Apr 23 and secured bail.

ACC prosecuted BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique in 2007 for illegally amassing around Tk 48.1 million and concealing asset details.

His wife Zubaida and mother-in-law Banu were named in the case later that year for aiding Tarique.

BNP chief Khaleda Zia's son, Tarique has been living in London for the past nine years. He faces arrest in dozens of other cases.

In 2016, the ACC pressed charges against Banu in the case, which is being heard at Dhaka's chief metropolitan magistrate court.

She challenged the chargesheet in High Court, but failed to secure a verdict in her favour and later moved the Appellate Division.

Zubaida, the daughter of Banu and former Navy chief Mahbub Ali Khan, married Tarique in 1993. The couple has a daughter.