Dhaka: The Supreme Court today acquitted BNP leaders Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin, and Mir Mohammad Helaluddin of charges in separate graft cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). A six-member Appellate Division bench, led by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, passed the orders, accepting criminal appeals and cancelling the High Court sentences against the convicts.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Senior Advocates Zainul Abedin, Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, and Ragib Rouf Chowdhury argued for the defence, while Advocate Shahin Ahmed represented the ACC. The ACC had filed a case on March 6, 2007, against former state minister and BNP vice-chairman Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin and his son, assistant organising secretary of the party, Mir Mohammad Helaluddin, with the Gulshan Police Station, alleging illegal wealth accumulation and concealment of property information.
A special judge court on July 4, 2007, sentenced Nasiruddin and Helaluddin to 13 years and three years in jail, respectively. The High Court later cancelled the verdicts on separate appeals, prompting the ACC to appeal. After a fresh hearing, the High Court upheld the lower court judgment, leading the father-son duo to file a leave-to-appeal petition, which the apex court allowed on March 17, 2025.
In a separate case, ACC Deputy Director Shahriar Chowdhury filed a case in March 2007 with Mohammadpur Police Station against former State Minister for Power Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, alleging concealment of assets worth Taka 4.96 crore and their sources of income. On November 15, 2007, the trial court sentenced Tuku to nine years in prison.
Tuku appealed the verdict to the High Court, which acquitted him on June 15, 2011. However, upon the ACC's appeal, the Appellate Division on January 21, 2014, set aside the acquittal and ordered a retrial. Tuku's review petition was later rejected by the Appellate Division. On July 26, 2023, the High Court directed Tuku to surrender within 15 days of receiving the verdict. A warrant for his arrest was issued when he failed to surrender by September 11 that year.