The High Court on Wednesday granted a six-month interim bail to convicted former minister Shajahan Siraj in two cases.

The bench of Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain and Justice Md Rais Uddin made the order after hearing a bail petition filed by the BNP leader. Siraj was sentenced to total 21 years’ imprisonment in absentia in a wealth related case and a tax evasion case filed during the state of emergency. On July 30, a Dhaka court sent Siraj to jail after he had surrendered to the court seeking bail in the cases.

On August 30, 2007, a special judge’s court sentenced Siraj to eight years in jail in the tax evasion case filed by the National Board of Revenue. Another special court on April 22, 2008 sentenced the ex-minister to 13 years’ imprisonment in a case for amassing illegal wealth and hiding information of wealth in his wealth statement submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission. The commission filed the case against Siraj and his wife for concealing information about property worth Tk 4 lakh.