A Dhaka court on Thursday, 27 August, acquitted BNP Standing Committee member and the prime minister’s political adviser Mirza Abbas and 11 others in 15 corruption cases. Judge Muhammad Kamrul Hasan Khan of Dhaka Special Judge Court No. 3 delivered the verdict. The court also acquitted Finance Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury in two cases.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the 15 separate cases on 29 March 2007, accusing 21 people of causing a loss of Tk127 crore 64 lakh 19 thousand 59 through the sale of 18 government houses without tenders. Mirza Abbas and 11 others were named in every case, while several other accused were charged in separate cases.

The allegations concerned properties in Gulshan, Dhanmondi and Shantinagar, which were allegedly sold through manipulated RAJUK tenders at lower prices. Prosecutors alleged that higher bids submitted by Public Works Department executive engineers were not considered. Charges were framed on 25 September 2007, and the court heard testimony from 23 of 24 witnesses during the trial.