A Dhaka court has deferred the charge framing hearing against British MP Tulip Siddiq in a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over allegedly acquiring a flat illegally in Gulshan-2. The hearing will now be held on 6 May.
Judge Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-5 passed the order on Thursday, ACC Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam confirmed.
The ACC filed the case on 15 April last year against Tulip, niece of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and Rajuk’s former assistant legal advisers Shah Md Khasruzzaman and Sardar Mosharraf Hossain, alleging they illegally obtained a flat from Eastern Housing Ltd in Gulshan without payment.
Following investigation, the ACC submitted a charge sheet against Tulip and Mosharraf on 11 December. On 18 February, the court accepted the charge sheet and issued arrest warrants against them.
Later, on 26 February, ACC assistant director AKM Mortuza Ali Sagar sought court permission to issue a red notice through Interpol to arrest Tulip, daughter of Sheikh Rehana. The court granted the plea after hearing.
On 8 March, the court ordered publication of a gazette notice requiring their appearance. After preparatory steps were completed, Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Sabbir Faiz transferred the case to Special Judge’s Court-5 on 8 April, fixing 16 April (Thursday) for charge framing.
According to the case statement, the accused allegedly colluded to abuse power and illegally occupied the flat without payment before registering it.
Tulip has previously been sentenced to six years in prison in three separate cases over plot allocation fraud.
