Mirza Abbas acquitted in 2 graft cases

A Dhaka court today (29 August) acquitted BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas in two separate cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Dhaka Special Judge's Court-4 Judge Md Rabiul Alam acquitted Abbas in a case filed over allegations of irregularities in plot allocation, according to court sources.

ACC Public Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam filed a petition to withdraw the case. After the hearing, the court granted the petition.

The other two accused in this case are former BNP MP Ali Asgar Lobi and government official Mahfuzul Islam.

According to the case document, in 2006, while serving as public works minister, Mirza Abbas allocated 19.44 kathas of land in the Tejgaon Industrial Area to a company named Pacific Chemicals.

ACC alleged that he made this allocation through irregularities in association with Ali Asgar Lobi and Mahfuzul Islam.

Following the complaint, the then ACC deputy director Syed Iqbal Hossain filed a case with Shahbagh Police Station on 15 July 2007.

On 11 February of the following year, the court ordered the framing of charges against the accused.

Besides, Judge Masud Parvez of Dhaka Special Judge Court-6 acquitted Mirza Abbas in a graft case filed against him in 2007.

During the hearing, the court acquitted him as the allegations against him could not be proven.

The ACC on 16 August 2007, filed the case with Ramna Police Station for amassing illegal wealth of Tk7.54 crore and concealing information about wealth of Tk57.26 lakh.

ACC Assistant Director Md Khairul Huda after probing the case, filed charge sheet on 24 May 2008, accusing Abbas for amassing illegal wealth of Tk4.23 crore and concealing wealth statement of Tk22 lakh.

The court on 16 June 2008, framed charges against Mirza Abbas.

During the trial, the court recorded statements of 24 prosecution witnesses.