Rana plaza graft verdict deffered again

On Tuesday morning (September 1), Dhaka Divisional Special Judge B M Tariqul Kabir announced the new date.

Earlier, the court had scheduled the verdict for August 16. However, as the verdict was not ready within the stipulated time, the court postponed it and set September 1 as the new date.

The other accused in the case, along with Sohel Rana, are former Savar municipality mayor Refat Ullah, former chief executive officer Uttam Kumar Roy, executive engineer Rafiqul Islam, former assistant engineer Mahbubur Rahman, former sub-assistant engineer Rakibul Hasan Russell, former town planner Farzana Islam, and licensing inspector Md Abdul Motaleb.

Sohel Rana, the owner of the building, is currently out on bail in this case. However, he is in jail in connection with the murder case filed over the deaths of workers in the Rana Plaza collapse. He will be brought to court from jail on the day of the verdict. Meanwhile, Mahbubur Rahman and Farzana Islam are absconding. The other accused who are out on bail are also expected to appear before the court.

During the trial, Sohel Rana’s father, Abdul Khaleque, and mother, Morzina Khatun Begum, died. Following their deaths, the court discharged them from the case.

-MT