The High Court today rejected a bail petition of seven accused including four journalists from Chattogram in connection with a corruption case and asked them to surrender before the trial court in Chattogram by December 24.

They are accused of fraudulently constructing and allotting plots in government land reserved for cemeteries and mosques at Sher Shah Journalist Housing area in Chattogram.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel came up with the order after virtually holding hearing on the petition filed by the seven accused seeking anticipatory bail in the case.

The seven accused are: Mahbubul Alam, former president of Chattogram Journalists Co-operative Housing Society; its former secretary Nizam Uddin Ahmed and his wife Hosne Ara; Shahid Ul Alam, former treasurer of the organisation, and his wife Taslima Khanam; Nirmal Chandra Das, former joint secretary of the organisations, and his wife Tapati Das.

The accused petitioners appeared before the HC bench today seeking anticipatory bail in the case.

Lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan appeared for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state while lawyer Shafi Uddin Ahmed argued for the accused petitioners.

On November 25, the ACC filed a case with its Chattogram Integrated district office against the accused on charge of evading tax, fraudulently constructing and allotting plots in government land reserved for cemeteries and mosques at Sher Shah Journalist Housing area in Chattogram.