Ex-BNP MP Rasheduzzaman’s graft acquittal scrapped

The Supreme Court today scrapped a High Court verdict that acquitted former BNP lawmaker Rasheduzzaman Millat in a corruption case.

The HC following an appeal in August, 2010 acquitted the former lawmaker from the graft charge on a ground that a notice issued by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) that asked for his wealth statement was illegal.

The notice was declared illegal as there was no full commission of the ACC when it was served to Rasheduzzaman in February, 2007.

On January 29, 2008, a Special Judges Court of Dhaka convicted him and sentenced to eight years imprisonment for amassing illegal wealth worth over Tk 5 crore and concealing information on his property for over Tk 4 crore.

Today, the Appellate Division of the SC cancelled the HC verdict and asked to hold further hearing on Rasheduzzamn’s appeal.

A three-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Justice Najmun Ara Sultana passed the order in response to an appeal petition filed by the government challenging the HC verdict.

The ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star that the HC will rehear the appeal of Rasheduzzaman to examine whether the lower court verdict that sentenced him was correct or not.

Rashduzzaman’s lawyer Badruddoza Badal said that his client will remain on bail until the HC disposes of his appeal.