HC stays Rana Plaza owner Sohel Rana's bail

Published at 01:54 pm June 8th, 2020

File photo: Work in progress to rescue the people trapped inside the debris of the collapsed Rana Plaza building on April 24, 2013 Syed Zakir Hossain/Dhaka Tribune

A Dhaka court on May 17 had granted bail to Rana in the case, which ACC had filed at Savar model police station on December 31, 2017

The High Court has stayed a lower court order that granted bail in a corruption case to Sohel Rana, the owner of Rana Plaza that collapsed on April 24, 2013 and killed more than 1,100 people.

The bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder passed the order on Monday, after virtually hearing a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) challenging the bail order.

Advocate Kurshid Alam Khan represented the ACC during the hearing, while Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik joined to represent the state.

Amin said the stay order will be effective for one week after the court's regular activities resume.

A Dhaka court on May 17 had granted bail to Rana in the case, which ACC had filed at Savar model police station on December 31, 2017.

The commission had accused Rana of amassing wealth worth Tk2.54 crore beyond known sources of income.

All courts around the country have been holding virtual hearings from May 11 amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which had forced the government to shut down offices, businesses and public transport.

All restrictions were, however, relaxed recently.