Mirza Fakhrul's bail extended

The Supreme Court yesterday extended for six weeks its order that had granted bail to BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in three arson and vandalism cases.

In response to three petitions filed by Fakhrul seeking an eight-week extension of its July 13 bail order, the apex court asked The BNP leader to surrender before the lower court concerned when the six weeks expire.

Fakhrul is now in the US for treatment. submitted the petitions on August 23 through his lawyer, saying that he needs eight more weeks for his treatment.

Meanwhile, the SC, scrapping a High Court verdict that had quashed the trial proceedings of a corruption case against BNP leader Mirza Abbas, cleared the way for the lower court to resume the trial.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case on July 16, 2007 on charges of amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 5.97 crore and hiding information on his properties worth Tk 3.33 crore. The HC on October 13, 2010 quashed the case proceedings saying that the notice issued by the ACC asking about the wealth statement was illegal as there was no full-fledged commission in February 2007 when the notice was issued. In 2011, the ACC then filed an appeal with the SC against the HC verdict.

Meanwhile, the HC granted six-month bail to BNP leader Amanullah aman in four vandalism and arson cases.