Besides, former general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) Iqbalur Rahman was placed on a two-day remand in connection with a case filed for extorting Tk 75 lakh from a businessman in August 2001.

The 11 tax evasion cases filed against former minister Shahjahan Siraj, his wife Rabeya Haider and son Rajib Siraj were sent to a special court for quick disposal.

IQBAL CASE
Metropolitan Magistrate Mir Ali Reza passed the order after Shahbagh police produced Iqbal before the court at 4.00pm with a ten-day remand prayer.

In the forwarding report, Sub-Inspector (SI) Ali Asgar Khan, also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, mentioned that Iqbal needs to be quizzed to recover the extorted amount and know about the whereabouts of his accomplices.

Opposing the prosecution plea, the defence lawyers submitted a petition for bail and cancellation of the remand prayer and said the date when the money was extorted was the regime of a caretaker government.

During that period, there was no scope for committing such offences. They were also involved in business, the lawyers added.

After hearing both the sides, the court rejected the bail petition and placed Iqbal on remand.

The anti-crime taskforce members Tuesday arrested Iqbal from the city's Shegunbagicha area and later he was charged in an extortion case.

In the case four other Awami League and its front organisation leaders were also made accused.

The others are Swechchhasebok League President Bahauddin Nasim, AL Assistant Secretary and former student leader Shafi Ahmed, and ex-BCL leaders Shah Alam and SM Kamal.

Mirza Oalid, managing director of MRG Ltd, filed the case with Shahbagh Police Station.

In the case statement, the complainant mentioned that the accused forced him to provide them Tk 75 lakh in return for a Tk 4.51 crore tender they were win for him for supplying metres and other equipment to DESA in 2001.

HUDA-SIGMA SHOWN ARRESTED
The same court yesterday granted the petition submitted by the IO for showing them arrested in the extortion case filed on July 29.

In the case statement, former BNP leader GM Siraj alleged that Huda and his wife demanded two Maruti cars from him for use by the staff of Khaborer Antorale, a weekly.

They intimidated him into providing a car worth Tk 3.95 lakh during February 23-28, 2003, the complainant alleged. Sigma is the publisher of the weekly.

Meanwhile, the graft case against Huda filed for allocating a piece of railway land illegally to a human rights organisation run by his wife Sigma was transferred yesterday to the fifth Special Court set up at Shere-e-Bangla Nagar MP Hostel.

TAX EVASION CASES AGAINST SIRAJ
Eleven tax evasion cases against Siraj and his family members were transferred yesterday to the Fourth Special Court for quick disposal.

The cases were filed against them on July 16 by the National Board of Revenue for evading huge income tax for several years.

Following the cases, the court had issued arrest warrants and property attachment order but they did not comply with orders.

BASHUNDHARA DGM ARRESTED
Tejgaon police yesterday arrested Bashundhara Group Deputy Managing Director Mostafizur Rahman from his residence in connection with a case for evading income tax for several years.

Judge Mohammad Azizul Haq of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court ordered to send Mostafiz to Dhaka Central Jail after police produced him before the court.

Police arrested him following an arrest warrant issued by the court on Tuesday.