Four others – Ghiyasuddin Al Mamun, a close aide of BNP’s acting chairman Tariq Rahman, Khondker Shahidul Islam, former acting secretary of the Ministry of Energy and its former senior assistant secretary to CM Yusuf Hussain – also pleaded not guilty after being read to the charges by the same judge.
The same judge also dismissed a plea seeking time for non-appearance on behalf of former Dhaka club president Salim Bhuiyan, canceled his bail and issued an arrest warrant against him.
Charges were framed against him in absentia. Three others, including former Principal Secretary to former Prime Minister Kamal Uddin Siddiqui, are absconding.
During the hearing today, Justice Sheikh Hafizur Rehman expressed dissatisfaction over repeated pleas for adjournment.