Time for probe report extended

A Dhaka court yesterday extended the time for submission of the probe report in a bribery case filed against Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan alias Shah Alam, former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar and two others until September 30.
With this order, the court has so far extended the submission date 10 times for the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
The case was filed in connection with taking and giving bribes to cover up the murder case of Humayun Kabir Sabbir, a director of Bashundhara Group.
Metropolitan Magistrate SK Tofael Hasan passed the order as the investigation officer of the case failed to submit the probe report yesterday, the deadline of the previous extension.
The two other accused in the case are Abu Sufian, director of Prime Bank and East West Property Development Private Limited, and former BNP lawmaker Qazi Saleemul Huq Kamal.
Abu Sufian, now on bail, was present in the court while a counsel represented Kamal.
Earlier on June 17, the court asked the CID to submit the probe report by yesterday.
An official of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court, Dhaka, said he had not found any documents in the case file showing Shah Alam on bail in the case or on the run.
CID Assistant Superintendent Arman Ali filed the case with Ramna Police Station on May 8, 2008.
Earlier on May 6, 2008, Anti-Corruption Commission pressed charges in another case against former prime minister Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman, Babar, Saleemul Huq, Shah Alam, his two sons Shafiat Sobhan Sanvir and Sadaat Sobhan, Abu Sufian and Tarique's personal secretary Mia Nur Uddin Apu.
The anti-graft body said the eight were involved in the bribery to save Sanvir from the charges of killing Sabbir.
On July 5, 2006, Sabbir's body was found outside a building in Bashundhara residential area.