Convictions of Tuku, two other BNP leaders overturned in corruption case

The Supreme Court on Thursday 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, headed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed passed the orders accepting criminal appeals and cancelling the High Court (HC) sentences against the convicts.

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 filed a case on 6 March 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 4 July 2007, sentenced Nasiruddin and Helaluddin to 13 years and three years in jail respectively.

Later, the HC cancelled the verdicts on separate appeals, prompting the ACC to appeal. After a fresh hearing, the HC upheld the lower court judgment, following which the father-son duo filed a leave-to-appeal petition. The apex court allowed their petition on 17 March 2025.

Meanwhile, in March 2007, ACC Deputy Director Shahriar Chowdhury filed a case with Mohammadpur Police Station against former State Minister for Power Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, alleging concealment of assets worth Tk 4.96 crore and their sources of income. On 15 November 2007, the trial court sentenced Tuku to nine years in prison.

Challenging the verdict, Tuku appealed to the High Court, which acquitted him on 15 June 2011. When the ACC appealed, the Appellate Division on 21 January 2014, set aside the acquittal and ordered a retrial. Tuku filed a review petition, which was later rejected by the Appellate Division.

On 26 July 2023, the High Court directed Tuku to surrender within 15 days of receiving the verdict. As he failed to surrender by 11 September that year, a warrant for his arrest was issued.