Cases similar, actions different

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Leaders of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami against whom warrants of arrest were issued in connection with the Gatco graft case are still staying at homes although dozens of political leaders including Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia were arrested prior to or hours after lodging cases.

These leaders, presumably blessed by a section in the government, may take the opportunity of the government’s “soft stance” and not surrender to the court before May 22, the date for hearing of the case.

A Dhaka court yesterday morning issued the arrest warrants against 12 persons. Earlier Tuesday night, charges were pressed against them along with former premier Khaleda Zia and 11 others.

Police claimed at 9:00pm yesterday that the court order was yet to reach them.

While pressing charges, the investigating officer of the case, ACC Deputy Director Johirul Huda, showed these 12 persons as absconding and appealed to the court for issuance of arrest warrants against them.

Of the 12, former finance minister M Saifur Rahman and former commerce minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury–both from BNP–are in abroad. Saifur left the country for Singapore on May 8.

But other BNP leaders–former LGRD minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan, former land minister M Shamsul Islam and former agriculture minister MK Anwar, and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and former industries minister Motiur Rahman Nizami are staying at their residences.

Meanwhile, Shamsul Islam and MK Anwar yesterday morning filed petitions with the High Court seeking anticipatory bail but the court refused to hear their petitions.

The ACC filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station on September 2 last year against 13 persons, including Khaleda and her younger son Arafat Rahman Koko, for graft in awarding Gatco the container-handling work at depots in Dhaka and Chittagong.

The charge sheet included 11 more persons as their involvement with the corruption was proved.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Naim Ahmed told The Daily Star last night that the police stations concerned were yet to receive the court order.

Asked if the “absconding” accused would be held on receiving the order, he said, “We will take measures to execute the court order.”

Mannan Bhuiyan, a major figure in the pro-reform BNP faction, yesterday said, “I am not escaping but staying at my house.”

He told reporters at his Gulshan residence that he cancelled his previous plan to surrender to the court yesterday morning and might go for it on Sunday after consultation with his lawyers.

If not arrested, he said he would surrender to the court on May 22.

Meanwhile, journalists from print and electronic media crowded at the residences of the four leaders for the second day yesterday, sensing that they might be arrested after issuance of the warrants.

Frustrated party activists and admirers also met their leaders.

Dozens of party activists also gathered at the Jamaat central office at Moghbazar yesterday. Sources said they will stage a demonstration the moment Nizami is arrested and taken away.

“We are here to watch the developments in phases,” a follower of Nizami told The Daily Star.

Jamaat policymakers yesterday held a series of meetings at the central office to work out strategies after the possible arrest of Nizami and primarily selected Abul Kalam Muhammad Yusuf, senior nayeb-e-ameer, as the acting ameer once the post falls vacant.

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