DHAKA: The High Court Sunday issued a rule asking the government to explain the legality of a law enacted last year with retrospective effect from the previous year against money laundering.  

   
Under provision of the Money Laundering Act 2009, money-laundering suspects sued in 2008 will also fall in the toils of the law.

Many high-profile persons, including politicians, were charged with siphoning off money in 2008 when a massive army-led anti-corruption drive had been on steam under state of emergency        

An HC bench comprising Justice Mamnun Rahman and Justice Syeda Afsar Jahan issued the rule upon the Law Secretary, the Finance Secretary and the Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman asking them to explain within 10 days why the Money Laundering Act 2009 “should not be declared illegal”.

The court edicts came upon a writ petition filed by one Jahirul Islam who contended that the act was passed in parliament on February 14, 2009 but it was given effect from April 15, 2008.

Barrister Fakhrul Islam stood for the petitioner in the hearing.

During the hearing, the lawyer said, “As per the Constitution, the accused should be tried under the existing law of a given period. But now the previous crimes would be tried under the subsequent act, which is a violation of the constitution.”

BDST: 1750 HRS, JULY 25, 2010