The High Court yesterday extended for six months its earlier order that stayed the proceedings against BNP leader Tarique Rahman in a case filed over an allegation of taking Tk 21 crore as bribe to suppress Sabbir murder case.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case on October 4, 2007 against Tarique, former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar and four accused in another case filed in connection with the murder of Humayun Kabir Sabbir, a director of Basundhara Telecommunications Network Ltd, in July, 2006.

Yesterday, a vacation bench of the HC extended the stay order after a petition filed by Tarique, senior vice-chairman of BNP and son of its Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Tarique who is accused in 15 criminal cases was freed from jail on bail in 2008 and went to London for treatment the same year.