Graft: HC rejects bail plea of Rana Plaza owner

The High Court today rejected a petition seeking bail for Sohel Rana, owner of Rana Plaza which collapsed and caused death of at least 1,135 people in April, 2013, in a corruption case filed on charge of committing irregularities in constructing the building.

The HC also directed the trial court concerned to finish the trial proceedings of the case in six months.

The bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice KM Hafizul Alam came up with the directive after holding hearing the petition filed by Sohel Rana’s wife Nurun Nahar Mitu seeking bail for Sohel Rana in the case.

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

He said the Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case with Savar Model Police Station on June 15, 2014 against Sohel Rana and 16 others on charge of committing irregularities in constructing the building--Rana Plaza at Savar which collapsed on April 24, 2013 causing death of 1,135 people, mostly garment workers, and injuries of more than 2,500 others.

Following the same bail petition, the HC on May 9, 2016 had issued a rule asking the ACC and government why Sohel Rana should not be granted bail in the case.

After holding hearing on the rule, the HC today rejected the bail petition.

Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan appeared for the ACC while Advocate Mohammad Sajjad Ali Chowdhury argued for Sohel Rana.

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 for of accumulating wealth illegally.