A Dhaka court yesterday framed charges against Awami League lawmaker from Cox's Bazar-4 constituency Abdur Rahman Bodi in a graft case filed over amassing illegal wealth.

After rejecting the discharge petition, Dhaka Special Judges Court-3 Judge Abu Ahmed Jomadar passed the order and set October 6 to begin the trial in the case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Bodi, now on bail, claimed himself innocent and demanded justice after the judge read out the charges to him.

On September 12 last year, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Dhaka turned down his bail petition and sent him to jail on his surrender in the case. Later, he got bail from the High Court.

There are widespread allegations that Bodi is a very influential drug lord of Cox's Bazar. However, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal recently said Bodi's involvement was not found in any drug smuggling case.

Earlier on August 21, 2014, the ACC filed the case with Ramna Police Station on charges of amassing illegal wealth and concealing information in his wealth statement submitted to the anti-graft body.

According to the case statement, Bodi on March 20 last year informed the ACC that he along with his wife and children owned movable and immovable properties worth Ik 5.20 crore

But his income tax return showed that they possessed properties worth Tk 16.06 crore till June 30 last year.

In his wealth statement, Bodi stated import business as his source of income, but he failed to produce any documents showing profit and loss of his business.

The lawmaker and his family members had only Tk 49 lakh in 2008 as per his wealth statement submitted to the Election Commission that year.