Charges framed against Moudud

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A Dhaka court yesterday framed charges against detained former law minister barrister Moudud Ahmed in connection with a case filed for possession of 32 cans of beer and 16 bottles of other alcoholic beverages.

The same court adjourned the proceedings of a graft case filed against barrister Nazmul Huda and his wife for taking Tk 2.40 crore bribe from a construction firm owner until Thursday following a time petition by the defence lawyers.

Huda showed his anger towards the prosecution after the charges were cited during the hearing of the case.

Besides, former health minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, former state minister for communications Salahuddin Ahmed and ntv managing director (MD) were remanded yesterday on different terms.

MOUDUD CASE
Judge Mohammad Azizul Haq of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court rejected the discharge petition submitted earlier and framed charges against Moudud in connection with the case filed with Gulshan Police Station.

Moudud pleaded not guilty and demanded justice before the court after the charges were read out. The court fixed tomorrow for trial of the case.

Following the order, Moudud’s lawyers submitted a petition seeking a month long time. But the court rejected it.

Mohamamd Obaidul Haque, officer-in-charge of Gulshan Police Station, also the investigation officer (IO), submitted the charge sheet to the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka on May 28 showing 10 people as prosecution witnesses.

The joint forces apprehended Moudud, also an influential BNP leader, on April 13 raiding his Gulshan residence in the capital.

The forces also seized various documents and 220 saris meant for government relief to the poor.

Later, a case was filed against Moudud, a member of BNP standing committee, under Section 25 (B) of the Special Powers Act, 1974 for obtaining foreign liquors evading government tax.

In the charge sheet, the IO mentioned that the charges brought against Moudud were primarily proved and he should be brought to justice.

Following his arrest, Moudud was taken on a four-day remand for interrogation.

On March 25, the National Board of Revenue directed banks to freeze the accounts of Moudud Ahmed and his wife.

Moudud served as a minister in three cabinets since the country’s independence in 1971. He also served autocrat ruler HM Ershad’s government as a prime minister and as a vice-president.

HUDA CASE
The same court adjourned the proceedings of the graft case against Huda and his wife Sigma Huda until Thursday.

In the petition, the defence lawyers mentioned that Sigma Huda could not appear before the court due to her illness.

Opposing the time petition, Special Public Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajal told the court that the defence had earlier submitted petitions on different excuses. So the petition for adjournment on sick grounds was not tenable at this stage.

Kajal also told the court that Huda had taken Tk 2.40 crore from a construction firm owner while he was in charge of the communications ministry.

On hearing such comment from the prosecution, Huda became angry with him and told that he should not make such comment, as he did not see the bribe taking incident.

On the other hand, the prosecution said they have documentary evidences about his bribe taking.

ACC Deputy Director Shafiqul Islam filed the case against them with Dhanmondi Police Station on March 21 for taking Tk 2.4 crore in bribe from Mir Zahir Hossain, the owner of Mir Akter Hossain Ltd, a construction firm.

On June 4, the ACC pressed charges against Huda and his wife Sigma in connection with the case.

Zahir corroborated the allegations against Nazmul Huda to a magistrate.

SELIM REMANDED
Detained former minister Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim was placed on a two-day remand in connection with a case filed for extorting Tk 2.99 crore from owner of a private limited company.

Metropolitan Magistrate Selina Akhter passed the order after officer-in-charge of Gulshan Police Station, also the IO of the case, produced Selim before the court with a five-day remand to interrogate him about the extortion.

On June 13, Azam J Chowdhury, managing director of Eastcoast Trading Private Ltd, filed the other case with Gulshan Police Station against Sheikh Hasina and AL leader Selim for extorting over Tk 2.99 crore.

SALAHUDDIN CASE
Former state minister for communications Salahuddin Ahmed was placed on a three-day remand yesterday in connection with a fraud case filed with Gulshan Police Station.

Metropolitan Magistrate Jagannath Das Khokon passed the order in the forgery case after Gulshan police produced Salahuddin before the court with a seven-day remand prayer.

In the forwarding report, Sub-Inspector (SI) Faruq Hossain, also the IO, mentioned that Salahuddin and his wife Hasina Ahmed had deprived the government of a large amount of tax by understating the prices of their three luxurious automobiles.

As such, Salahuddin needed to be quizzed so that vital clues about the case could be gathered, the IO said.

The defence submitted a petition seeking cancellation of the remand prayer.

After hearing both the sides, the court rejected the petition for cancelling the remand prayer and placed him on a three-day remand for interrogation.

On April 1, SI Faruq filed the case against the couple with Gulshan Police Station.

NTV MD REMANDED
The same court placed ntv MD on a three-day remand after the ACC placed a ten-day remand prayer to interrogate Bappi.

Earlier on March 29 and May 20, Bappi was placed on a five-day remand in two phases.

Two other accused in the case are former BNP lawmaker Harunur Rashid and owner of Sky Autos, Istiaq Sadiq.

The case was filed on March 17 with Pallabi Police Station in connection with evading tax during import of a luxury car by abusing duty-free car import privilege of an MP.

MIRZA ABBAS CASE
Judge Mohammad Azizul Haq of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court rejected bail petitions of detained former housing and public works minister Mirza Abbas in connection with two murder cases filed with Motijheel Police Station on different dates.

The court passed the order following two criminal appeals against the rejection orders of the lower court.

GANI SENT TO JAIL
Chief Forest Conservator Osman Gani was sent to jail yesterday on completion of a three-day remand in connection with a case filed against him under Passport Act with Uttara Police Station.

Metropolitan Magistrate Shafique Anwar passed the order after the IO produced him before the court on completion of his remand.

He was earlier taken on a nine-day remand under the Emergency Power Rules.

The joint forces on May 29 recovered about 289 tolas of gold ornaments from a bank locker of Chief Conservator of Forests Osman Gani and Tk 6.95 lakh more in cash, savings certificates worth over Tk 5 lakh and ownership documents of flats and plots at his Uttara residence.

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