BNP MP Harun gets 6-month interim bail

The High Court (HC) on Monday granted six-month interim bail to BNP MP Harun-ur Rashid Harun of Chapainawabganj-3 constituency in a case filed for abusing duty-free import privilege, reports UNB.

The HC bench of justice Md Shawkat Hossain passed the order after hearing an appeal challenging a lower court verdict that had sentenced Harun to five years imprisonment in the case.

The HC also stayed the lower court order to Harun for paying fine of Tk 5 million.

Lawyer Joynul Abedin stood for the BNP MP while advocate Khurshid Alam represented the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

On 21 October, Dhaka special judge court-4 handed down the verdict against MP Harun.

The court also sentenced managing director of TV channel NTV Enayetur Rahim Bappi to two years jail with Tk one lakh fine while businessman Imtiaz Sadeque, to three years imprisonment with Tk 4 million fine. They were tried in absentia.

According to the prosecution, Harun-ur-Rashid imported a duty-free vehicle costing Tk 1165,000 lakh in 2004. Later, he in collusion with Imtiaz sold out the vehicle to Enayetur Rahim at Tk 9.7 million.

Later, sub-inspector Mohammad Yunus Ali of Tejgaon police station filed a case against MP Harun and two others on 17 March, 2007.

Later on July in 2007, ACC assistant director Monayem Hossain after investigation submitted charge sheet before the court against the trio.