A Dhaka court has acquitted former Shariatpur-1 lawmaker and Awami League organising secretary BM Mozammel Haque in a case filed over the alleged extortion of Tk25 lakh.
Dhaka’s 14th Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mahmuda Akter delivered the verdict on Sunday.
Defense lawyer Md Liton Mia said Mozammel will not be released despite the acquittal, as several other cases against him remain pending. The court later sent him back to jail.
Trial proceedings began on 1 April after charges were framed. On that day, complainant Khalilur Rahman told the court he had no objection to Mozammel’s acquittal, and the court fixed 5 April for the verdict.
According to the case, Mozammel allegedly summoned Khalilur to his Dhanmondi office through individuals affiliated with the Awami League (now activities banned) and banned Chhatra League. Later he demanded Tk25 lakh from Khalilur, giving him three days to pay and threatening that he would otherwise be disappeared.
Mozammel was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) from Dhaka’s Niketan area on 5 October last year and has remained in prison since then.
