Trial of high-profile corruption suspects starts

Dhaka, May 6 (UNI) The submission by prosecution witnesses'(PWs) in a corruption case against Harris Chowdhury, political secretary to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, began today, marking the onset of trials against many high-profile corruption suspects.

Three ex-ministers of state were also put to trial at the makeshift special judge's court at the MP hostel of parliament building which heard corruption cases against them on the first day of the trial process.

Judge Ashraf Hossain recorded the testimony of the PWs in the case against Harris Chowdhury, who is being tried in absentia.

The hearing remained inconclusive and deposition by the two other PWs will be recorded on Tuesday.

Harris, who is on the run amid a crackdown on embroiled politicians and their associates, is facing a non-compliance case filed by the ACC for his failure to submit his wealth statement within a specific timeframe, as directed by the anti-graft watchdog.

Meanwhile, three other graft cases against Awami League leader and former state minister Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and BNP leaders and former state ministers Mir Nasir Uddin and Aman Ullah Aman were received by the special courts in the makeshift courthouse today.

The hearing of these cases will take place on May 9.

Authorities had barred mediapersons from covering the proceedings of the courts this morning. However, the embargo was lifted three hours later.

Tight security arrangements are in place in and around the makeshift courts which are going to try some of the country's high-profile corruption cases against those detained or on the run which is a rare event in the country's eventful history.

UNI