Graft case: HC again refuses bail to Rana Plaza owner

The High Court today again refused to grant bail to Sohel Rana, owner of the Rana Plaza -- which collapsed leaving at least 1,135 people in April, 2013 -- in a corruption case filed on charge of committing irregularities in constructing the building.

The court, however, issued a rule asking the Anti-Corruption Commission and government to show cause in 10 days why Sohel Rana should not be granted bail in the case. 

The bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice KM Hafizul Alam came up with rule after holding a hearing on the bail petition filed by Sohel, who is now in Dhaka Central Jail.

Earlier on April 9 last year, the HC bench had rejected another petition seeking bail for Rana in the same case.

He cannot get released from jail following the HC order, Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik told The Daily Star.

He said the ACC filed the case with Savar Model Police Station on June 15, 2014 against Sohel Rana and 16 others on charges of committing irregularities in constructing the building in Savar.

Earlier on August 29, 2017, a Dhaka court convicted and sentenced Sohel Rana to three years' imprisonment in another corruption case filed by the ACC over illegally accumulating wealth.

Advocate AKM Fazlul Haque appeared for the ACC.