Verdict on Tarique Rahman, Mamun's Appeal on Mar 6

The Appellate Division of the High Court has scheduled March 6 for the verdict on the appeal filed by BNP's acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, and businessman Gias Uddin Al Mamun against their convictions in a money laundering case related to Singapore.

On Tuesday, March 4, a four-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, set the date after concluding the hearing. 

Barrister Mohammad Zakir Hossain and Advocate Zakir Hossain represented the petitioners in court.

Previously, on December 10, 2024, the Appellate Division suspended Tarique Rahman's seven-year sentence in the money laundering case.

The case dates back to July 21, 2016, when the High Court overturned a lower court's acquittal of Tarique Rahman, sentencing him to seven years in prison and imposing a Tk 20 crore fine. The High Court upheld the seven-year sentence for Gias Uddin Al Mamun but reduced his fine from Tk 40 crore to Tk 20 crore.

Earlier this year, Mamun filed a leave-to-appeal petition seeking a waiver for the delay in challenging the High Court verdict. On December 10, 2024, the Appellate Division suspended his sentence.

The origins of the case date back to October 26, 2009, when the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed charges against Tarique Rahman and Mamun at Dhaka Cantonment Police Station. 

The allegations stated that Mamun had accepted Tk 20.41 crore in bribes from Nirman Construction to secure a contract to build an 80-megawatt power plant in Tongi. 

Between 2003 and 2007, the money was transferred through various channels to Mamun's account at Citibank in Singapore, from which Tareq Rahman withdrew and spent Tk 3.78 crore.

The trial began on July 6, 2011. On November 17, 2013, the court acquitted Tarique Rahman, sentenced Gias Uddin Al Mamun to seven years in prison, and imposed a Tk 40 crore fine.

Following the verdict, on December 5, 2013, the ACC appealed against Tarique Rahman's acquittal. The High Court accepted the appeal on January 19, 2014, and later, the ACC's and Mamun's appeals against his conviction were heard together. 

On July 21, 2016, the High Court delivered its ruling, sentencing Tarique Rahman and upholding Mamun's punishment with a reduced fine.