Dhaka, Mar 20 (V7N) – A Dhaka court has acquitted BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, former state minister for home affairs Lutfuzzaman Babar, and six others in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over allegations of accepting a Tk 21 crore bribe to drop the murder case of Bashundhara Group director Sabbir Sobhan.

Judge Md. Abu Taher of Dhaka's Special Judge-3 Court announced the verdict on Thursday (March 20). Following the verdict, Tarique Rahman’s lawyer, Masud Ahmed Talukder, and Lutfuzzaman Babar’s lawyer, Borhan Uddin, stated that none of the witnesses testified against the accused. They claimed that the case was completely fabricated and that Tarique Rahman now faces no legal barriers to returning to Bangladesh.

The defense lawyers further announced their intention to file a case against the former ACC officials involved in bringing the charges and seek compensation for what they described as a false and baseless case.

The other individuals acquitted in the case include Tarique Rahman’s former APS Mia Nur Uddin Apu, Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal, Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, Safiyat Sobhan, Sadat Sobhan, and Abu Sufian.

This verdict marks a significant legal victory for Tarique Rahman, who has been living in exile in the UK for years. It remains to be seen whether he will now return to Bangladesh following his acquittal.

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