Tarique has been charged with extortion of Tk 1 crore from a construction firm, Al-Amin Construction, a concern of Amin Mohammad Foundation.

Owner of the construction firm, Amin Ahmed, who got ticket as a BNP candidate from a Noakhali constituency for the cancelled January 22 election, filed the case against Tarique with Gulshan Police Station yesterday.

At 11 at night, a white microbus carted Tarique to the court under strict security. Flanked by Rab and police personnel, the man who is believed to have virtually ruled the country for the last five years from the Hawa Bhaban, could hardly be recognised under the armour of his protective gear that reminded people present in the court of the security given to top militants like Bangla Bhai. He walked to the court as a heavy crowd pushed and shoved to get a view of the joint forces' top catch.

"I am a victim of domestic and international conspiracies," Tarique mumbled as journalists asked for his remarks about his fate.

Profusely sweating, Tarique showed signs of fatigue and tension. The man, who was known for his habitual light-heartedness and off-the-cuff remarks often bordering on insolence, looked a shade of his former self.

As Tarique walked to the dock, his lawyers pleaded that his jacket and helmet be removed as he spent a sleepless night. But the court only permitted removal of his helmet.

A bewildered Tarique gave a vacant look around and then muttered for a glass of water. A mineral water bottle was passed to him by his lawyer. Tarique gulped down a few sips and then returned the bottle.

His lawyers pleaded for a chair for him to sit on as they said Tarique felt unwell, a request entertained by the court. As the prosecuting lawyer read out the charges against him, Tarique, the man who was thought to be untouchable by any force and enjoyed state protocol during the BNP-Jamaat government's tenure although he did not hold any portfolio, kept his head down.

The defence lawyer fought back the allegations, saying that the charges were only part of a bid to defame the senior joint secretary general of the BNP.

The court rejected his bail prayer and granted a four-day remand in the extortion case.

He was then taken off the dock. He walked slowly to the microbus waiting outside the courtroom without even throwing a glance to anyone. His eyes were fixed on the ground.

THE CASE
Amin Ahmed in the FIR filed with Gulshan Police Station mentioned that a few days back Tarique called him over phone and asked him to go to Hawa Bhaban. As he went to Hawa Bhaban, Tarique demanded Tk 1 crore as extortion and said if he failed to comply with the demand he would not be allowed to run his firm Al-Amin Construction.

A few days into the demand for extortion, Amin went to Hawa Bhaban with a cheque of Tk 1 crore. But, Tarique refused to take it and demanded hard cash. Later on January 4, his brother Faruq Ahmed withdrew Tk 1 crore from the Banani Branch of Dhaka Bank and provided the money to Apu, an aide of Tarique, at Hawa Bhaban. They carried the money in two bags. He also mentioned that Tarique later over phone acknowledged receiving the money.

A BNP leader of Chatkhil in Noakhali, Amin said he did not file the case at that time in fear of reprisal. He said he filed the case on hearing that Tarique was arrested.

DETAILS OF THE GD
Gulshan police also filed a GD against Tarique yesterday. In the GD police mentioned that during the alliance rule Tarique himself, his party friends and business partners earned a huge amount of money through unbridled corruption in local and foreign tenders.

There is no legality of the source of his earnings. Besides, he also amassed a huge amount of money taking commission from those who earned illegal money by appointing people in different posts in the civil aviation and tourism ministry.

Moreover, he siphoned off crores of taka which he earned through manipulating tenders using his, other family members' and business partners' influences in purchasing CNG auto-rickshaws, setting up power plant and manufacturing electric poles which caused huge loss to the government.

Police said Tarique needs to be confined to jail to refrain him from such activities.

FIVE OTHER ARRESTEES SENT TO JAIL
Former health minister Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, Chittagong Mayor ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, ex-BNP lawmaker MAH Salim, ex-Jamaat MP Syed Abdullah Mohammad Tahir and Janakantha Editor Atikullah Khan Masud were sent to jail yesterday.

Two courts in Dhaka and one in Chittagong turned down bail petitions of the five and ordered their 30-day detention as law enforcement agencies brought charges of corruption and misuse of power against them.

Mosharraf, Salim, Tahir and Atikullah were sent to Dhaka Central Jail and Mohiuddin to Chittagong Central Jail.

All the arrestees are on the list of 50 influential political leaders and businessmen for the second phase of the joint forces' anti-corruption drive.

Earlier in February, the forces arrested 19 high profile politicians from the two major parties -- BNP and Awami League (AL)-- as they went on a hunt for 50 corrupt suspects listed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Thirty-five of the listed 50 have been arrested so far.

The government, meanwhile, extended by one-month detention of former state minister Salahuddin Ahmed and former BNP lawmaker from Dhaka-10 Mosaddak Ali Falu, who were arrested in the first week of February.

MOSHARRAF
Mosharraf, arrested by the joint forces from his Banani residence around 8:00pm on Wednesday, was taken to an undisclosed destination. Some documents were also seized from the house.

The BNP central leader was handed over to Cantonment Police Station yesterday morning and was kept there for security reasons.

Meanwhile, Obaidul Haq, officer-in-charge of Gulshan Police Station, filed a general diary against him with the police station yesterday on charges of corruption and causing damage to the national economy.

Producing him before the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka, at 3:00pm yesterday, police sought his 30-day detention under the Special Powers Act 1974, saying he needs to be put behind the bars in greater national interest.

According to the forwarding report by the police, Mosharraf amassed huge property through corruption when he was health minister of the BNP-led coalition government.

Describing as sly in nature and a threat to public safety, the forwarding letter said he caused damage to the national economy and contributed to destabilising the situation in the country.

Mosharraf and his counsel Sanaullah Mia opposed the charges and sought bail.

"Earlier, the government of Ershad arrested me but I was proved innocent. Hasina's (AL) government also arrested me and put me on a 30-day detention but the High Court declared the detention illegal and fined the government Tk 1 lakh," the former health minister told the court.

Alleging that the AL foiled the parliamentary election scheduled for January 22 and forced the declaration of state of emergency, the BNP leader claimed the allegations brought against him were false and aimed at harassing him. And he sought bail.

Hearing both the sides, Metropolitan Magistrate Shafiq Anwar placed him on a 30-day detention and ordered sending him to Dhaka Central Jail.

He was later taken to the jail in a microbus.

CTG MAYOR
Immediately after his arrest from his Chashma Hill residence in the port city at 11:00pm on Wednesday, the joint forces handed over AL leader and Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Mohiuddin to Panchlaish police.

He was later put under the custody of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) at Patenga.

Police produced him before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court around noon yesterday with a prayer for his detention on various charges including a wide range of corruption, nepotism, grabbing of public land and properties, and for his recent role in paralysing the premier seaport causing huge losses to the economy.

Over 100 lawyers led by Advocate Ibrahim Hossain Babul, former president of Chittagong District Bar Association and joint secretary of Chittagong city AL, moved a bail petition for him.

The counsels argued that there is no specific allegation against Mohiuddin and that he was arrested as part of a conspiracy to harass him. He was elected CCC mayor for three consecutive terms, they mentioned.

Hearing both the sides, Metropolitan Magistrate Moksedur Rahman rejected the bail prayer and ordered sending him to Chittagong Central Jail.

Stating that Mohiuddin could not be granted bail since he was arrested under Section 16 of the Emergency Power Ordinance 2007, the court ordered the jail authorities to grant him division in jail.

"I do politics for the people and I have no involvement in any anti-people activity," Mohiuddin told the waiting crowd while walking to a prison van.

"I've been arrested because I have always raised my voice against corruption and for the cause of the people," he said.

The defence lawyers later brought out a procession on the court premises chanting slogans against Mohiuddin's arrest.

An army source told The Daily Star Mohiuddin faces 14 to 17 allegations. "He was arrested as per the demand of all. Specific charges will be brought against him after examining all the allegations brought against him," he said.

SALIM, ATIKULLAH
Police produced former BNP lawmaker Salim, also president of BAIRA, before the court of Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka, Mamun Al Rashid, at 7:15pm with the same allegations made in another GD filed against him with Gulshan Police Station.

Although lawyer of Salim, also managing director of private satellite television Channel 1, moved a bail petition, the court rejected it and ordered sending him to Dhaka Central Jail placing him under a 30-day detention.

The joint forces followed him to his house on road No. 14 in Gulshan-2 since he came out of Channel 1 office in Gulshan-1 at 11:30pm. They raided his house and took him to Silver Tower in Gulshan-1 where they conducted another raid. They handed him over to Cantonment police yesterday.

Producing Tahir before the same court at 8:15pm, police mentioned corruption charges against him and said he hampered public safety and law and order in his constituency and Adabar area in Dhaka.

A GD was filed against him earlier with Adabar Police Station.

The policemen produced Atikullah Khan Masud before the court at 8:30pm with the charges of corruption, patronising criminals and carrying out propaganda against the caretaker government.

Police said in GD filed with Ramna Police Station against him that he has tarnished the country's image abroad by the newspaper published with foreigners' fund. He even contributed to deterioration of law and order through destructive activities, said the forwarding report.

The court rejected bail petitions for both of them and ordered to send them to jail on 30-day detention.

FALU-SALAHUDDIN'S DETENTION EXTENDED
Former state minister Salahuddin Ahmed and former BNP lawmaker Mosaddak Ali Falu, now in Khulna District Jail on a one-month detention, will be on detention for another month.

Superintendent of Khulna jail Ataur Rahman yesterday admitted getting an order from the home ministry in this regard.

The two were sent jail on February 12.

In Netrakona, the joint forces yesterday arrested Alamgir Hosen Titu, cousin of former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, and a UP chairman in Khaliajuri upazila. He was held while returning home after submitting wealth statement at the district ACC office.

Meanwhile, the local administration yesterday sent to jail Babar's former assistant personal secretary Mirza Haider Ali and cousin Salahuddin Chawdhury, General Secretary of Netrakona upazila BNP Rafiqul Islam Jewel and moneylender Jewel a day after they were arrested while coming out of the ACC office.