BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, his wife Zubaida acquitted in ACC graft case

The High Court has overturned the prison sentences of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman, acquitting them in an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) case over illicit wealth.

The single bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman delivered the verdict in the case on Wednesday.

The court said the ACC filed the case without giving Zubaida notice per the law, which was “not legal”.

It also called the entire process of the case from the filing of the complaint “malicious”. As such, though Tarique did not appeal his sentence, it was also overturned and he was acquitted.

Zubaida was represented in court by lawyers SM Shahjahan and Kayser Kamal, while Asif Hasan argued on behalf of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The appeal hearing began on May 22 with a review of the case documents, including the first information report (FIR), chargesheet, witness testimonies, and the lower court’s verdict. After two days of hearings, the case reached the verdict stage.

Tarique, who was released from jail in 2008, went to London for advanced medical care. His wife Zubaida and their daughter Zaima Rahman accompanied him. They did not return to Bangladesh during the Awami League’s time in power.

After the fall of the Awami League government on Aug 5 last year, courts dismissed several cases against both Tarique and his mother and former prime minister Khaleda Zia.

On Oct 2, 2023, Zubaida’s sentence in the corruption case was suspended for one year.

According to the government notice issued at the time, the suspension was granted on the condition that she surrenders before the Senior Special Judge's Court in Dhaka and files an appeal.

After 17 years, Zubaida returned to Bangladesh from London on May 6, accompanying her mother-in-law Khaleda. Her legal team later filed an appeal with the High Court.

The case was filed by the ACC on Sept 26, 2007, at Kafrul Police Station during the military-backed caretaker government. It implicated Tarique, Zubaida, and her mother Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu.

They were accused of concealing assets worth Tk 48.15 million and providing false information. Zubaida and her mother were charged with aiding Tarique and withholding information.

That same year, both Tarique and Zubaida filed separate writ petitions challenging the legality of the case. On Mar 31, 2008, the ACC submitted the chargesheet.

Eventually, on Aug 2, 2023, Judge Md Asaduzzaman of the Dhaka Senior Special Judge’s Court sentenced Tarique Rahman to nine years in prison and Zubaida Rahman to three years, along with fines.

Zubaida later filed an appeal against her conviction. On May 14, the High Court accepted her appeal and granted her bail. A day earlier, the court had also granted her petition to condone a 587-day delay in filing the appeal.