Minu released on bail

Mizanur Rahman Minu, the BNP candidate at Rajshahi-2 constituency came out of Rajshahi Central Jail last evening after one and a half years.

His family members and some 50 leaders and activists of local BNP welcomed him at the jail gate when he was released at around 6.35pm.

His release, just five days ahead of official beginning of poll campaigning from December 12, made BNP activists hopeful for having strong fight in the election race.

Minu who was criticized before for giving certificate to militant kingpin Asadullah Al Galib will fight against the grand alliance candidate Fazle Hossain Badsha who has already started voicing against militancy.

Minu, also former Rajahahi mayor and lawmaker was freed as the high court on Thursday granted him bail in two corruption cases lodged by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Minu was held on June 6, 2007 over the Tk 1 crore extortion case with Rajpara police station. After being freed on bail from the case, he was held again from Rajshahi Nagar Bhaban on June 11, 2007 under the emergency power rules.

Listed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) as one of the corrupt-suspects, Minu was later sued in total seven cases including a murder.

Minu in his affidavit provided with nomination papers stated that he is still accused in five cases.

Trial proceedings in three cases including one for graft and one for tax dodging are now stayed while two cases are now under trial.

He was acquitted in the Tk 1 crore extortion case, in which he was sentenced to 13 years of imprisonment by a lower court. He has been also cleared off charges in two cases including the murder charge.

On Thursday last, he got bail in the two graft cases, one for illegally leasing out Rajshahi City Corporation markets and properties to BNP leaders and another for misappropriating Tk 58.26 lakh worth relief rice and corrugated iron sheets.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=66641