Businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun, a friend and business associate of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, has been granted bail.

A Dhaka court on Tuesday granted bail to Mamun in a loan default case, said his lawyer Jahedul Islam Koel.

He will be freed from Kashimpur jail shortly, he said.

Mamum was arrested on January 31, 2007, during the military-backed caretaker government’s term, and has been in jail since then.

There are various cases against him which include extortion, corruption, money laundering and tax evasion.