Graft case: HC clears way to resume trial against BNP leader Anne

The High Court today cleared the way for the lower court concerned to resume the trial proceedings of a corruption case against BNP leader Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anne.

The HC also ordered the lower court to finish the trial proceedings of the case in the next six months.

The bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice KM HafizulAlam lifted the stay order issued by another HC bench in 2016 on the trial proceedings of the case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

The bench came up with the verdict after rejecting a revision petition filed by Anne seeking exoneration from the trial proceedings of the case against him.

Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik told The Daily Star that the ACC filed the case with Ramna Police Station on October 9, 2014, against Anne on charges of amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 1.4 core and concealing information about his wealth worth Tk 13.14 lakh.

A special judge court of Dhaka framed charges against Anne in this case on May 24, 2016.

Following the same revision petition, the HC on September 1, 2016 stayed the trial proceedings of the case against issued a rule asking the ACC and government to show causes why Anne should not be exonerated from the charges of the case, DAG Manik said.

After holding hearing the rule, HC today rejected the revision petition, he added.

Advocate Zainul Abedin appeared for Anne while Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan argued for the ACC.