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Bail to over 500 extended by HC

Tarique, Moudud among them; most of them detained under EPR for petty crimes

Staff Correspondent
The High Court (HC) yesterday extended bail for four months to over 500 people accused in different criminal cases filed under the Emergency Power Rules (EPR).
The vacation bench of justices AKM Fazlur Rahman and Sheikh Abdul Awal also extended for as many months earlier HC orders that had stayed the proceedings of the cases, following 515 petitions.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman, former BNP ministers Moudud Ahmed and Tariqul Islam, former state minister Amanullah Aman, former energy adviser Mahmudur Rahman and former BNP lawmak-
ers Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu, Salauddin Ahmed, Shahidul Islam, Anwarul Azim and Zainul Abedin Faruk, and former energy secretary ANH Akhter Hossain were among the petitioners.
Most of the other petitioners are not well known, sources said.
The same bench granted four months' ad interim bail to Khondaker Akhter Hamid Paban, son of BNP Secretary General Khondaker Dclwar Hossain, in a case filed on charges of violating the EPR
The HC also issued a rule on the government to explain why Paban should not be granted regular bail in the case. Describing the extension of bail and stay orders as routine work, the petitioners' lawyers said it was nothing unusual.
"Earlier, the High Court had granted ad interim or anticipatory bail to the petitioners and stayed the proceedings of some of the cases," barrister Mahbubuddin Khokon, standing up for four petitioners including Tarique Rahman, said.
The court also issued rules on the government to explain why those case proceedings should not be quashed and why the petitioners should not be granted regular bail, he explained.
"The rules are still pending with the High Court. In the circumstances, the High Court extended the bail and stay orders," he said.
He said Tarique Rahman filed two petitions for extension of bail and stay orders in two extortion cases.
Moudud Ahmed and Tariqul Islam filed two similar petitions while Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu filed three for extending the tenure of earlier HC orders, he said.
The lawyers said all the cases were filed after the caretaker government took over on January 11 last year.