Special courts jail three former ministers in corruption case

Dhaka, July 26 (UNI) As the military-backed caretaker government in Bangladesh continued war on corruption, special courts today jailed three former ministers for different terms, ranging up to 34 years.

Former Post and Telecommunications Minister of the immediate-past BNP government Barrister Aminul Haque and his colleague ex-Deputy Minister for Land Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu, former State Minister for Planning of the previous Awami League government, Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir and Dhaka City Corporation ward commissioner and cine-actor Dipzol are the prominent ones in the lot.

After assuming the office on January 12 under the state of emergency, the caretaker government headed by Chief Advisor Dr Fakjruddin Ahmed launched massive operation against corruption and rounded up nearly 200 former Ministers, MPs, civil servants and businessmen.

Former Prime Minister and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina was arrested on July 16 on charges of extortion. Although immediate past Prime Minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has not yet been arrested but she is also facing several cases of corruption and political murder. Khaleda's eldest son and BNP leader Tarique Rahman was arrested on a number of corruption and extortion charges and detained in jail.

UNB news agency said ex-Minister Aminul Haque and 24 others were sentenced to jail for 31 years and six months for "patronising Islamic militancy" in northern district of Rajshahi.

Ex-Deputy Minister Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu of Natore was jailed for eight years along with 17 members of his extended family and some 71 others in a looting and arson case.

In Dhaka, detained former State Minister and Awami League presidium member Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir was sentenced to 13 years jail by a special court in a graft case.

Besides, a Dhaka court sentenced Dhaka City Corporation ward commissioner and film-actor Monwar Hossain Dipzol to 17 years rigorous imprisonment for unauthorised possession of firearms.

UNI