BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and seven others were acquitted on Wednesday (November 27) in a Tk10.31 crore extortion case filed by Abdul Monem Limited, a contracting company.

The others acquitted are Tarique Rahman’s associate Giasuddin Al Mamun, Obaidullah Khandaker, Kamruzzaman, Engineer Mahbubul Alam, Engineer AKM Shoaib Bashir alias Hablu, Azizul Karim Tareq, and Monizur Rahman alias Manik.

Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sanaullah accepted the final police report, which recommended clearing all eight individuals of charges.

The investigation officer, Inspector Md Sajjad Hossain of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch, submitted the final report on November 5, stating that the case lacked merit.

The case, filed on April 9, 2007, alleged that Giasuddin Al Mamun and his associates extorted Tk10.31 crore from Abdul Monem Limited during its work on the Jamuna Bridge Link Road Project and a road widening project in Fenchuganj, Moulvibazar.

The plaintiff, Khairul Bashar, then-general manager of Abdul Monem Limited, claimed the extortion occurred between 2001 and 2004, involving cash and cheques under threats of harm.

The investigation revealed that the plaintiff had been coerced into filing the case due to political and administrative pressure.

In a 2009 affidavit, Bashar stated that the allegations were false and filed against his will.

Evidence showed no basis for the claims under Sections 385, 386, and 387 of the Penal Code.

BDST: 1415 HRS, NOV 27, 2024
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