BNP dismisses verdict as hoax

Dhaka, June 23 (bdnews24.com)?Opposition BNP has rejected the verdict against party chief Khaleda Zia's son Arafat Rahman Coco as stage-managed.

In his reaction, party's acting secretary-general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said they would fight the verdict in the court.

"This verdict is pre-determined and politically motivated. The government has given the verdict by filing a false case against Coco to disgrace the family of Ziaur Rahman to wreak vengeance," he told reporters at the Naya Paltan headquarters.

Coco was jailed for six years and fined Tk 190.41 million in a money laundering case.

Co-accused in the case Ismail Hossain Simon, son of former shipping minister late Akbar Hossain, was given the same punishment.

The case was filed against the duo for channelling 2,884,000 Singapore dollars and USD 932,000 to Singapore.

Pointing that the prime minister instructed officials to expedite the cases against Coco and his elder brother Tarique Rahman, Fakhrul said, "The ministers have recently been commenting on the issue which means the verdict was preset."

He claimed the 'so-called' case had no grounds to punish Coco.

"The lawyers are observing it," he added.

Asked about future programmes, Fakhrul said decision may come from a meeting of the party's standing committee.

Joint-secretary-general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, and leaders of BNP's associate wings were also present at that time.

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