Sunday, August 8, 2010

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/latest_news.php?nid=25213

A High Court bench on Sunday asked the government and the Anti-Corruption Commission to explain why the proceedings of a money laundering case against BNP leader Tarique Rahman should not be quashed.

It also directed the authorities to explain why the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2009, under which the case was filed, should not be adjudged illegal and unconstitutional.

The division bench comprising Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice SM Emdadul Hoque came up with the rule in response to a writ petition by the senior vice-chairman of the BNP challenging the money laundering prevention law and the filing of the case against him under this law.

Upon a bail from the Supreme Court, Tarique, elder son of former prime minister and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia, is now in London on medical grounds.

The ACC filed the case on October 26, 2009 with a Dhaka court against Tarique and his business partner Giasuddin Al Mamun on charge of laundering Tk 20.41 crore to Singapore between 2003 and 2007.

Mamun was arrested in January 2007 and is still behind the bars on different corruption charges.

The anti-graft watchdog submitted a charge sheet to the trial court on July 5 this year against the accused in this case.

Tarique filed the writ petition with the HC on August 1 through his lawyer barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon saying the Money Laundering Prevention Act has been passed in parliament on February 24, 2009, with retrospective effect from April 15, 2008, which is against the rules of the country's constitution.

A money bill was placed in parliament for passing the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2009, although money bill cannot be placed in parliament for such law as per the constitution, the petition said.

Barrister Rafique-ul Huq and barrister Moudud Ahmed appeared for the petitioner, while Advocate Anisul Huq and Advocate Khusrhid Alam Khan argued for the ACC.