Latif sent to jail in graft case

A Bogura court yesterday sent former textiles and jute minister Abdul Latif Siddique to jail in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission over misuse of power in selling a government property.

District and Sessions Judge Naresh Chandra Sarkar passed the order, rejecting his bail petition.

As an arrest warrant was earlier issued for Latif, also the former Awami League leader, he appeared before the court yesterday and sought bail. But he was denied bail and sent to jail, said ACC lawyer Abul Kalam Azad.

Latif’s lawyer Helalur Rahman claimed that his client, who contested the 11th parliamentary election as an independent candidate from Tangail-4, had followed all the due procedures while selling the government property.

The ACC initiated the legal proceedings against the former minister on October 17, 2018.

ACC Assistant Director Aminul Islam lodged the case with Adamdighi Police Station on October 10, 2017.

Jahanara Rashid, wife of late Harunur Rashid in Kalitala of Adamdighi upazila, was also made accused in the case.

According to the case statement, Jahanara leased a piece of land in Adamdighi, owned by Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation, for three years at Tk 1.2 lakh per year on May 13, 2010.

On November 13, 2011, Jahanara applied to the ministry for purchasing the land.

Later, then textiles and jute minister Latif, without floating any formal tender, awarded the land to Jahanara at Tk 23.94 lakh although its market price was Tk 64.63 lakh, resulting in a loss of Tk 40.69 lakh.

Following the incident, the ACC filed the case against Latif and Jahanara under the Penal Code and section 5(2) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 1947.