BNP’s Central Organising Secretary and former State Minister for Land, Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu, and his wife Sabina Yasmin have been acquitted in a corruption and tax evasion case.
The verdict was delivered on Sunday, June 22, by Judge Md Abul Kashem of Dhaka Special Judge Court-1. Both Dulu and his wife were present in court during the announcement of the verdict. Following the acquittal, Dulu expressed his satisfaction with the court’s decision.
Their lawyer, Borhan Uddin, stated, “The court acquitted them as the charges were not proven. We are satisfied with the verdict.”
According to the case documents, on April 19, 2007, the then Assistant Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Mahfuza, filed the case against Dulu and his wife. They were accused of concealing wealth information worth Tk 5.01 crore and possessing illegal wealth amounting to Tk 8.44 crore.
After the investigation, ACC Assistant Director Nur Jahan submitted a charge sheet against the couple on July 19 of the same year.
Subsequently, on August 29, 2007, the court accepted the charges and ordered the commencement of the trial. Dulu later challenged the case in the High Court, which, on July 18, 2012, ruled in his favor and dismissed the case.
However, the ACC appealed the High Court verdict, and on November 2, 2015, the Appellate Division overturned the High Court’s decision and ordered the resumption of trial proceedings.
Following the Supreme Court’s directive, the trial continued at Dhaka Special Judge Court-1, culminating in Sunday’s verdict acquitting Dulu and his wife of all charges.