B'desh court acquits ex-ruler of graft charge

DHAKA, Sep 17: A Bangladesh court today cleared former military ruler Hossain Mohammad Ershad of graft charges in a land allotment case, the fourth acquittal in the last two months.

The government filed the case against Ershad in 1992, accusing him of alloting land in violation of government provisions, court officials said.

''The ex-president has been acquitted today as the charges against him could not be proved during trial,'' Ershad's attorney Sheikh Sirajul Islam told reporters.

Ershad seized power in a bloodless coup in March 1982, while he was the army chief, but was ousted in a popular uprising in December 1990 and then sent him to prison.

He served six years in jail before being released on bail while about 20 cases of corruption and misuse of power were still pending against him.

Ershad's lawyers said most of the charges were politically motivated and hence should be withdrawn.

Ershad has said that he planned to join the ruling alliance headed by Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia ahead of elections in January 2007.

REUTERS