Dhaka, Nov 27 (V7N) – BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and seven others were acquitted on Wednesday in a Tk10.31 crore extortion case filed by Abdul Monem Limited, a contracting firm.

The acquitted individuals include Tarique Rahman’s associate Giasuddin Al Mamun, along with Obaidullah Khandaker, Kamruzzaman, Engineer Mahbubul Alam, Engineer AKM Shoaib Bashir (Hablu), Azizul Karim Tareq, and Monizur Rahman (Manik).

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

The investigation officer, Detective Branch Inspector Md Sajjad Hossain, submitted the final report on November 5, concluding that the case lacked merit.

Initially filed on April 9, 2007, the case alleged that Giasuddin Al Mamun and his associates extorted Tk10.31 crore from Abdul Monem Limited during their work on the Jamuna Bridge Link Road Project and a road expansion project in Fenchuganj, Moulvibazar, between 2001 and 2004.

The plaintiff, Khairul Bashar, the then-general manager of Abdul Monem Limited, claimed the extortion was carried out under threats of harm, involving both cash and cheques.

However, the investigation found that the plaintiff was coerced into filing the case due to political and administrative pressure. In a 2009 affidavit, Bashar admitted that the allegations were false, stating they were made against his will and that he had no personal knowledge of the accused.

The police discharge application described the case as politically motivated, aimed at damaging Tarique Rahman’s reputation. It noted that the claims lacked substantiation under Sections 385, 386, and 387 of the Penal Code.

Following the submission of the investigation report, the court accepted the discharge recommendation, resulting in the acquittal of all accused individuals.

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