Dhaka, Jan 04 (V7N) — The Supreme Court's Appellate Division is set to hear the state's appeal against the High Court's decision to quash four extortion cases against BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman. The hearing has been scheduled for Sunday, January 5, before a four-member bench led by Senior Justice Md. Ashfaqul Islam.

The cases, filed at Dhaka's Kafrul Police Station during the caretaker government in 2007, were dismissed by the High Court on October 23, 2024. The double bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Syed Enayet Hossain ruled to quash the cases, citing insufficient grounds for prosecution.

Following the High Court's ruling, the state submitted a leave to appeal, arguing that the decision to dismiss the cases was legally flawed. Court sources have indicated that the state's petition claims the dismissal was inconsistent with legal standards and seeks to overturn the High Court's ruling.

Tarique Rahman, who has been living in exile in London since 2008, has long denied the allegations, claiming political motivation behind the cases.

The upcoming hearing will be closely watched as it may have significant political and legal implications for both Tarique Rahman and the ongoing legal proceedings against him.

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