Arrest warrant issued against BNP leader Tuku

A special court in Dhaka today issued an arrest warrant against BNP standing committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmood Tuku in a case filed over illegally amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 2.57 crore.

Judge Md Iqbal Hossain of Dhaka's Special Court-5 passed the order after Tuku failed to appear before it today.

Earlier on August 7, the High Court released a full text verdict against Tuku, dismissing his appeal against the jail sentence.

In the text, the HC asked Tuku to surrender before the trial court within 15 days after the court receives the copy of HC verdict.

The trial court on August 27 received the HC copy of the judgment and asked Tuku to surrender before it within 15 days.

The same bench on May 30 this year upheld the trial court verdict which convicted and sentenced Tuku to prison in a corruption case filed during the rule of the caretaker government.

The trial court on November 15, 2007 handed Tuku a nine-year jail term in the case for amassing wealth illegally and concealing information in his wealth statement.

Following his appeal, the HC on June 16, 2011 acquitted the BNP leader of the corruption charges.

The SC on January 27, 2014 cancelled the HC verdict and asked it to hold a fresh hearing on his appeal.