The hearing on arguments of the arms case filed against controversial businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun will be held today while detained former communications minister Nazmul Huda was shown arrested yesterday in an extortion case.

Besides, Harris' brother-in-law and driver were placed on five-day remand in connection with a graft case filed against them with Dhanmondi Police Station.

HARRIS CASE
Sub-Inspector (SI) Babul Hossain of Gulshan Police Station, who is also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka showing 18 people as prosecution witnesses.

The IO prayed for issuance of arrest warrant against Harris and order to attach his properties. The charge sheet will be placed before the court for hearing on its acceptance.

On February 4, the joint forces seized two briefcases with the currencies from the house of Harris' Gulshan residence.

The briefcases were opened on April 2 in the presence of Metropolitan Magistrate Mir Ali Reza and the foreign currencies were found, sources said.

According to the statement, Harris hoarded foreign currencies worth about Tk 5.64 lakh with a plan to smuggle those abroad.

On April 9, Gulshan police filed the case against Harris under the Money Laundering Act.

Earlier on May 22, a special court sentenced Harris to three years' imprisonment for not submitting his wealth statements to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) within the stipulated timeframe.

MAMUN'S ARMS CASE
Mamun pleaded not guilty and demanded justice yesterday after Judge Abul Bashar of the First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court read out statements from 26 prosecution witnesses in connection with the arms case.

In his written statement, Mamun mentioned that the joint forces arrested him along with three others from a house at Paltan on January 31 and later they were blindfolded, handcuffed and taken to an unknown place.

After being kept under custody for a long time, he was forwarded to a Dhaka court on March 26. And he was implicated in an arms case, even though it was false, fabricated and concocted, goes the statement. Mamun appealed to the court to acquit him of the charges of the arms case.

Earlier, the court had recorded statements of 26 prosecution witnesses including the complainant and IO of the case.

The court fixed today for hearing on arguments of the case.

HUDA'S EXTORTION CASE
Detained Nazmul Huda was shown arrested yesterday in the case filed against him for extorting Tk 10 lakh from a construction firm owner.

Metropolitan Magistrate Shafique Anwar passed the order after the IO of the case Mohammad Yunus submitted a petition to show Huda arrested in the case.

Two other accused in the case are Nazmul Huda's wife Sigma Huda and Alena Khan.

Wahidur Rahman Azad, a construction contractor of the Roads and Highways Department (RHD), filed the extortion case against Huda and two others on June 26.

According to a case filed with Tejgaon Police Station, Huda called Wahidur Rahman Azad, the complainant, to BSEHR (Bangladesh Society for Enforcement of Human Rights) office in February 2003 and demanded Tk 10 lakh in cash.

Huda also gave an alternative to Azad, asking him to construct a conference room for the organisation.

Azad said he agreed to build the conference room due to continuous pressure from Huda and it cost him Tk 5.5 lakh.

On completion of the work in three months, Azad demanded the money he spent for the work from Huda, Sigma and Alena but they threatened to create problem in getting his payments from the RHD if he demanded the money, alleged the plaintiff.

Huda is a member of the national committee of the BSEHR, Sigma is its secretary general and Alena Khan is its executive director.

HARRIS' RELATIVE REMANDED
A Dhaka court yesterday placed the driver and a brother-in-law of Harris Chowdhury on five-day remand.

Metropolitan Magistrate Jagannath Das Khokon passed the order after ACC Assistant Director Shafiqul Alam Siddiqui produced Harris Chowdhury's driver Abdus Salam and brother-in-law Mohammad Masum before the court with a seven-day remand prayer for each for interrogation.

The case was filed with Dhanmondi Police Station against Orion Group Chairman Obaidul Karim, Harris and three others involving a luxury car worth about Tk 3 crore.