Charge framing hearing against Tulip over ‘Gulshan flat bribery’ deferred again

Court postpones the hearing against the British MP for the third time in the alleged graft case until Sept 1

The charge framing hearing against British MP Tulip Rizwana Siddiq in a case alleging she accepted a flat in Gulshan as a bribe has been deferred once again, with the court fixing Sept 1 as the next hearing date.

The hearing has now been postponed three times.

Dhaka Special Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun passed the order on Sunday.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam said the case had been scheduled for a charge framing hearing.

"Counsel for the suspect Mosharraf Hossain, who is out on bail, sought more time. The court approved the application and fixed Sept 1 for the next hearing," he said.

The ACC filed the case on Apr 15 last year against Tulip, former RAJUK assistant legal advisor Shah Mohammad Khasruzzaman, and former assistant legal advisor-1 Sardar Mosharraf Hossain over allegations that Tulip received a flat from Eastern Housing Limited as an "illegal gratuity".

After the case was filed, Khasruzzaman petitioned the High Court in July seeking a stay on the investigation.

The High Court suspended the investigation against him for three months.

The ACC completed its investigation against the remaining two suspects without Khasruzzaman.

Assistant Director AKM Mortuza Ali Sagar submitted the chargesheet to the court on Jan 13.

After taking cognisance of the chargesheet, the court issued arrest warrants against the two suspects on Feb 18.

The investigating officer later sought the court's approval to request an Interpol Red Notice for Tulip's arrest.

The court approved the application on Feb 26. Gazette notifications were subsequently published asking the suspect to appear before the court.