Mirza Abbas acquitted in 15 corruption cases

A Dhaka court acquitted BNP Standing Committee member and Prime Minister’s Political Adviser, with the rank of minister, Mirza Abbas in 15 corruption cases filed over the alleged irregular sale of 18 government houses.

Judge Mohammad Kamrul Hasan Khan of Dhaka Special Judge Court-3 passed the order on Thursday (August 27).

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the cases in March 2007, accusing Abbas and others of manipulating tender processes to sell 18 abandoned government houses at prices allegedly below their actual value. The alleged irregularities were said to have caused a loss of Tk 12.76 billion to the state.

The cases were filed with Motijheel Police Station, accusing Abbas of involvement in a scheme in which tenders were allegedly rigged to favour selected buyers during the sale of the properties.

After completing its investigation, the ACC submitted charge sheets on September 20, 2007, naming 21 people as accused. The court later framed charges and began the trials.

The cases involved abandoned government properties in several parts of Dhaka, including Gulshan, Dhanmondi and Shantinagar.

The proceedings were delayed for years by legal complications. The trials were also stayed following a High Court rule and order in 2018. The cases resumed after the court rejected the relevant petition, paving the way for the proceedings to continue.

After a lengthy judicial process, the court on Thursday acquitted Abbas in all 15 cases.