Tarique Rahman, Babar, six others acquitted of bribery charges

A Dhaka court has acquitted eight persons including BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar of the charges in a case lodged over allegedly taking Tk 210 million in bribes for giving clean chit to Bashundhara Group vice-chairman Shafiat Sobhan Sanvir in Sabbir killing case.

The other people, who have been acquitted of the charges, are Miah Nur Uddin Apu, Qazi Salimul Haque Kamal, Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, Shafiat Sobhan, Sadat Sobhan and Abu Sufian, reports BSS.

Judge Md Abu Taher of Dhaka Special Judge Court-3 pronounced the judgement this morning, defence counsels Borhan Uddin and Aminul Gani Titu said.

The case was filed with the city's Ramna Police Station on October 4, 2007, for allegedly exchanging bribes of Tk 210 million for dropping the name of Shafiat Sobhan Sanvir from the case lodged over the murder of the Bashundhara Group director Sabbir.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on April 24, 2008, filed the charge sheet against the eight including Tarique Rahman as the court on July 14, 2008, framed charges against them.