Orphanage Graft: Arrest order issued for Tarique

A Dhaka court yesterday cancelled bail of BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman and issued an arrest warrant against him in connection with Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of the Special Judge Court-3 passed the order rejecting a petition submitted by his lawyer Sanaullah Miah seeking adjournment of the hearing.

In the petition, Sanaullah said his client Tarique could not appear before the court yesterday as he had gone abroad for treatment. Sanaullah also said Khaleda could not appear before the court due to her physical illness and concern over her security.  

Zia Uddin Zia, one of Tarique's lawyers, said following the issuance of this arrest warrant, Tarique will no longer be able to defend the case through any lawyer. So far, four arrest warrants had been issued against Tarique in four other cases including one linking him with the August 21 grenade attack.

Ever since Tarique left for London on September 11 of 2008 for better treatment, Sanaullah had been representing Tarique in his absence.

The first verdict against Tarique, accused in over 19 cases, came from the High Court in July last year when he was handed down a sentence of seven years' imprisonment and a Tk 20-crore fine in a money laundering case.

The court fixed January 30 as the date of hearing and asked BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to appear before it. In case she fails to comply, her bail would be cancelled, the court warned.

The court also fixed February 2 for placing Khaleda's self-defence statements in connection with the Zia Charitable Trust graft case.

Tarique was arrested on March 7 in 2007 and he was released on bail on medical grounds on September 4 of 2008.

On December 29 last year, the same court had directed all six accused including BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique to appear before it whenever the court fixed dates to question about their involvement with the corruption.

Earlier in the day, the court read out charges to two other accused -- former BNP lawmaker Saleemul Haq Kamal and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed -- from statements of 32 prosecution witnesses.  

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 2008 with Ramna Police Station accusing Khaleda, Tarique and four others for misappropriating over Tk 2.10 crore that was received as grants for orphans via a foreign bank.