Dhaka: Police today filed a final report in an extortion case against eight individuals, including BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, recommending that they be absolved of the charges after determining that the allegations were unfounded. Investigation officer Detective Branch Inspector Md Sazzad Hossain submitted the report to the general registration wing of the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court. The court is set to conduct a hearing on the matter on November 27. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the other accused in the case are Gias Uddin Al Mamun, Obaidullah Khandaker, Kamruzzaman, Engineer Mahbubul Alam, Engineer AKM Shoyeb Bashuri, Azizul Karim Tarek, and Monijur Rahman alias Manik. The complainant, on May 7, 2009, submitted an affidavit via notary public, asserting that the allegations against the accused were baseless and that he had lodged the complaint under duress from vested interests. He expressed his intention not to pursue the case further. During the investigation, the comp lainant further informed the investigation officer that he did not even know the accused and had been coerced into filing the fabricated allegations under political and administrative pressures. The case was originally filed in 2007 by Contractor Farm Abdul Monem Limited's General Manager Khairul Bashar, alleging a demand for Taka 10.31 crore in extortion.
