A Dhaka court yesterday framed charges against Awami League lawmaker from Cox’s Bazar, Abdur Rahman Bodi, in a graft case filed for amassing illegal wealth.
Judge Abu Ahmed Jamadar of Dhaka Special Judge’s Court 3 framed the charges against the lawmaker and fixed October 6 for commencing trial in the case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Bodi, who is now on bail, yesterday pleaded not guilty and demanded justice after the charges were read out to him.
In August of last year, ACC Assistant Director Md Abdus Sobhan filed the case with the Ramna police station in Dhaka charging Bodi for amassing illegal wealth and concealing information in wealth statement submitted to the anti-graft watchdog.
According to the case statement, Bodi informed the ACC on March 20 of last year that he, his wife and children together owned movable and immovable properties worth Tk5.20 crore. But his income tax return showed that they possessed properties worth Tk16.06 crore until June 30 last year.
ACC Deputy Director Manjur Morshed submitted the charge sheet in this case in May this year.
The ruling party lawmaker based in Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar stayed in jail for three weeks last in this case. Later, the High Court granted him ad interim bail and he was released on October 30 last year.
The lawmaker’s name has also been included in a list of top yaba traders in Cox’s Bazar by the Department of Narcotics Control.
However, earlier this month, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said in a programme in Dhaka that there was not yet any proof that Bodi has any involvements with the contraband drug trade.