HC verdict on Zubaida Rahman’s graft case appeal on May 28

The High Court has fixed May 28 for delivering its verdict on an appeal filed by Zubaida Rahman, wife of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, challenging a lower court verdict that sentenced her to three years in jail in a corruption case.

The bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman today set the date after completing the hearing on the matter.

Lawyers SM Shahjahan, Kayser Kamal and Zakir Hossain Bhuiyan represented Zubaida in court, while lawyer Ashif Hassan stood for the Anti-Corruption Commission.

On May 14, the HC granted Zubaida bail after admitting her appeal.

The bail will remain in effect until the final disposal of the case, according to the court.

The court also stayed the fine imposed by the trial court and called for case records from the lower court, Advocate Maksud Ullah told The Daily Star.

On May 13, the same bench condoned a 587-day delay in filing the appeal, clearing the way for her legal challenge.

Under the relevant laws, appeals must be filed within 60 days of a trial court verdict, lawyer SM Shahjahan explained.

Zubaida returned to Bangladesh on May 6 after 17 years abroad.

The government had earlier suspended her sentence for one year on the condition that she would surrender and file an appeal.

Following the condonation of delay, Zubaida's lawyers formally appealed against the verdict that had convicted her and her husband.

On August 2, 2023, a Dhaka court sentenced Tarique to nine years and Zubaida to three years in prison in the case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in 2007.

The court also fined Tarique Tk 3 crore and Zubaida Tk 35 lakh, in default of which, they would have to serve additional jail terms.

The case was filed at Kafrul Police Station on September 26, 2007, accusing Tarique, Zubaida, and her mother Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu of amassing Tk 4.82 crore in "illegal" wealth and concealing information about Tk 2.16 crore in their asset declarations.