Senior lawyer SM Shahjahan on Monday (May 26) expressed his hope that Dr Zubaida Rahman will be acquitted from the three-year sentence in a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). 

He also expects that her husband, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, will be acquitted as well.

Shahjahan made the remarks after a hearing at the High Court on Dr Zubaida’s appeal against her sentence. 

Following the hearing, the bench of Justice Md Khasruzzaman fixed May 28 for delivering the verdict.

The case was filed by the ACC on September 26, 2007, with Kafrul Police Station in Dhaka, accusing Tarique Rahman, Dr Zubaida Rahman and her mother Syeda Iqbal Mand Banu of concealing information about wealth and amassing illegal assets.

On August 2, 2023, a Dhaka court sentenced Tarique Rahman to nine years in prison—six years under Section 27(1) and three years under Section 26(2) of the ACC Act 2004. He was also fined Tk 3 crore. Dr Zubaida was sentenced to three years in prison and fined Tk 35 lakh under Section 27(1).

Later, her sentence was suspended for one year by an executive order of the government.

Dr Zubaida left Bangladesh for London on September 11, 2008, with her husband. She returned to the country on May 6 this year after 17 years and appealed to the High Court. 

On May 14, the court accepted her appeal, granted her bail, and stayed the fine until the appeal is resolved. A hearing on the appeal also took place on May 22.

Speaking to reporters, SM Shahjahan said none of the properties mentioned in the case were illegal or acquired beyond known income. 

Regarding the appeal, he said, “If Zubaida is acquitted, the benefit may apply to Tarique as well, though Mr. Tarique did not file an appeal in this case.” 

He said documents supporting this will be submitted to the court on Tuesday. 

“We hope for fair justice. We expect Dr Zubaida Rahman and her husband Tarique Rahman will be acquitted,” he added.

MSK/SMS