Online Desk: A court in Dhaka on Thursday framed charges against BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman in graft case. The court set May 16 for taking deposition in the case. Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Asaduzzaman also rejected a petition filed earlier for appointing lawyers on behalf of Tarique Rahman and his wife. Now, it is clear that the couple can not fight legal battle from London. They are fugitive in the case.

Attorney General A M Amin Uddin on Monday said there is no precedent in the history of our judicial system to fight a legal battle without appearing in court so far. There is no scope for Tarique Rahman and his wife to fight legal battle by appointing lawyers as both are fugitives. According to the case, on September 26, 2007, the ACC lodged the case with Kafrul Police Station for amassing properties worth Taka 4,81,53,561 through illegal means and concealed information in wealth statements.

Earlier on January 5 this year, a court ordered police to confiscate moveable and immovable properties of the couple and asked Cantonment Police Station officer-in-charge (OC) to submit a progress report on implementation of the order of confiscating properties by today.

On January 19, the court received reports from Cantonment Police Station on execution of property attachment issued against Tarique and Zubaida, which stated that the police did not receive any of the goods or any list regarding the properties.

Judge Md Asaduzzaman of Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court then ordered Tarique and Zubaida to appear in court, and ordered the authorities concerned to publish the order as a gazette as the next step of the case. Then the gazette over the isuue was published on January 30.