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Businessman Gias Uddin Al Mamun was also acquitted on charges of laundering Tk 200 million to Singapore
Published : 06 Mar 2025, 10:21 AM
The Supreme Court’s Appellate Division has acquitted BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and businessman Gias Uddin Al Mamun in a money laundering case.
A four-member appellate bench led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed issued the verdict on Thursday, overturning the High Court’s decision in the case.
Advocate Mohammad Zakir Hossain, a counsel for the defence, confirmed the news.
Senior lawyer SM Shahjahan and Zakir were present on behalf of the appellant at the hearing.
Zakir said, “Tarique Rahman has been acquitted of the seven-year sentence and the fine of Tk 200 million imposed by the High Court. The Appellate Division, after reviewing the evidence against him, has not found any substance in the case and has exempted him from liability. In addition, they have instructed that the damage to his position and honour be restored.”
Shahjahan said the Appellate Division has acquitted Mamun and although Tarique did not appeal in this case, the legal team showed through various judgments of the Bangladeshi, Indian, and Pakistani supreme courts that if the case is not proven against the prime suspect and it is shown that it was filed to intentionally harass and humiliate the accused, the court can acquit a suspect without an appeal if it so wishes.
“This was our contention and we showed it. The honourable chief justice and the other judges present accepted our argument. That is - Tarique Rahman will also get the benefit. That is, we can say that Tarique Rahman has also been acquitted.”
The case against Tarique and Mamun was filed at the Dhaka Cantonment Police Station on Oct 26, 2009. The court indicted the two on Jul 6, 2010 and the trial began on Jul 6, 2011.
On Nov 17, 2013, Dhaka Special Judge Md Motahar Hossain acquitted Tarique and sentenced businessman Gias to seven years in prison on charges of laundering Tk 200 million to Singapore.
The Anti-Corruption Commission, or ACC, moved the High Court against the acquittal of Tarique on Dec 5, 2013.
After hearing the appeal, the High Court overturned the trial court’s acquittal and sentenced the BNP leader to seven years in prison on Jul 21, 2016. Mamun’s prison sentence was upheld, but the Tk 400 million fine against him was reduced to Tk 200 million.
Following the changeover in government last year, Mamun petitioned to appeal the case.
On Dec 10 last year, the Appellate Division suspended the sentences and fines of Tarique and Mamun.
Tarique, the son of BNP chief Khaleda Zia, has been in the UK since 2008. Several dozen cases had been filed against him during the military-backed caretaker government and the Awami League’s rule. He has since been acquitted in nearly 40 cases.
