BNP leader Ishraque Hossain acquitted in ACC case

A court in Dhaka has acquitted BNP leader Ishraque Hossain in a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Judge of the Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 Sheikh Nazmul Alam passed the order on Monday.

Earlier, the same court framed charges against Ishraque Hossain in the corruption case.

Ishraque Hossain is the son of the late former mayor of undivided Dhaka City Corporation and BNP leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka.

ACC Deputy Director Jahangir Hossain, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge-sheet against him on December 6, 2018.

On May 5 last year, a court issued a warrant for Ishraque’s arrest after accepting charges against him in his absence.

Ishraque surrendered before the court on December 9 last and secured bail in the case.

ACC Assistant Director Shamsul Alam filed two cases with Ramna Police Station on August 29 and 30, 2010 against Ishraque and his sister Sarika Sadeque.

According to the case statements, during a primary inquiry into the wealth of Ishraque and Sarika, the ACC found that they acquired wealth worth about 5 crore taka beyond known sources of income.

On September 1, 2008, it asked them to submit their wealth statements within seven days which they failed to do.

As per the ACC findings, Ishraque has illegal wealth worth about 3 crore taka while Sarika possesses wealth worth around 2 crore taka.

Meanwhile, the case proceedings against Sarika Sadeque remain halted following a High Court order.

nh/teb