Suspended ACC director Basir denied bail

The High Court yesterday rejected a bail petition filed by the  suspended director of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Khandaker  Enamul Basir, in a case over transaction of Tk 40 lakh as bribe.

The  HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice SM Mozibur  Rahman passed the order, claiming that the petition was not presented  properly before it.

The bench, however, ordered the lower  court concerned to finish the case's trial proceedings under relevant  laws, Enamul's lawyer Zahidul Alam told The Daily Star.

He  said the trial court is supposed to dispose of the case against his  client in 360 days from the date of accepting it for trial.

Zahidul  Alam said Enamul's lawyers requested the HC to reject the petition as  the HC was reluctant to grant him bail in the case at this stage.

Lawyer  Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal appeared for Enamul while ACC lawyer Khurshid  Alam Khan opposed the bail petition during the virtual hearing.

Enamul, now in jail, filed the petition with the HC on June 2 through his lawyer Zahidul Alam.

Enamul  sought bail since he is ailing, suffering in jail for a long time, and  the trial proceedings against him are not running now due to the second  wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The HC earlier refused to grant bail to Enamul on several occasions considering the gravity of his offense, the lawyer said.

On  July 16, 2019, ACC Director Sheikh Md Fanafillah filed the case with  the ACC's Dhaka District Integrated Office-1 under the anti-money  laundering act on charge of taking Tk 40 lakh as bribe from suspended  deputy inspector general of police Mizanur Rahman.