Law Week
Koko jailed for 6yrs, fined Tk 39cr
Arafat Rahman Koko, youngest son of BNP chief Khaleda Zia, and Ismail Hossain Saimon were jailed for six years each in connection with siphoning off over Tk 20 crore bribe money to Singapore. The court also fined each of the convicts Tk 38.83 crore. Delivering the judgment, Judge Mohammad Mozammel Hossain of the Special Judge's Court-3 asked the authorities concerned to take up measures to bring back Tk 20 crore that siphoned off to Singapore. Punishment will be effective from the day of their arrest or surrender, the judge said.Earlier, The Anti-corruption Commission filed the case with Kafrul Police Station on March 17, 2009 in connection with siphoning off Tk 19.7 crore to Singapore.-The Daily star online edition June 23 2011.
Contempt rule against govt
The High Court on June 21 issued a contempt of court rule against the government for obstructing BNP leader Barrister Nasir Uddin Asim at Shahjalal International Airport from going abroad.Following a petition, an HC bench issued the rule upon four government officials asking them to explain within seven days why legal action should not be taken against them for committing contempt of court by obstructing Asim and family members at the airport. The HC bench of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice M Moazzam Husain also asked the OC immigration to appear before the court on July 10 to explain the reason behind obstructing Asim and his family from going abroad.-The Daily star online edition June 21 2011.
JP's ex-minister acquitted
in graft case
A Dhaka court on June 21 acquitted former minister and Jatiya Party (Manju) leader Sheikh Shahidul Islam and Pran Group Chairman Maj Gen (retd) Amzad Hossain Khan in a graft case filed against them in 1991. Judge Mohammad Abdul Majid of a Special Court for Dhaka Division acquitted them as the prosecution failed to prove the charges against them. Earlier, the court recorded statements of two prosecution witnesses, including complainant, of the case. The case was filed against them with Ramna Police Station on February 11, 1991.- The Daily star online edition June 21 2011.
HC for policy on dietary supplements
The High Court on June 20 issued a rule upon the government to explain within three weeks why it should not be directed to formulate a policy for manufacturing, importing, selling and distributing dietary supplements. In response to a writ petition, the court also asked the government to explain why it should not be directed to create a specialised regulatory body for the same purposes. Sheikh Alamgir Hossain, an official of Boston Labs House, a supplement company, filed the writ petition as public interest litigation. However, in Bangladesh there is no policy or regularity body on the supplement market or industry although a number such products are already selling here.-The Daily star June 21 2011.
Kibria Murder, Babar finally charged
Police have formally charged 14 more people, including ex-state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar and Harkat-ul-Jihad (Huji) leader Mufti Abdul Hannan, with the killing of former finance minister Shah AMS Kibria in a deadly grenade attack six years ago. Police investigator Rafiqul Islam submitted the supplementary charge sheet on June 20 to the court of Judicial Magistrate Rajib Kumar Biswas in Habiganj town after an expanded probe into the 2005 killing that occurred in Kibria's home district, Habiganj. - The Daily star June 21 2011.
13 BNP men get HC bail
The High Court on June 20 granted anticipatory bail for four weeks to 13 BNP leaders and activists including lawmaker Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee in three criminal cases. The cases were filed with Dhanmondi, Ramna and Shahbagh police stations on charges of creating anarchy, vandalism and arson during the 36-hour hartal on June 12 and 13 enforced by the main opposition and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami. The HC bench of Justice Syed Mohammad Ziaul Karim and Justice ANM Bashirullah passed the order following three bail petitions filed by the accused.- The Daily star June 21 2011.
Acquitted in 14, 3 more to go
A Dhaka court on June acquitted former president and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad in a money laundering case filed during the tenure of the BNP government in 1995. With the latest verdict, Ershad, who stepped down as president on December 6, 1990, has been cleared in 14 of the 17 lawsuits against him. The Senior Special Judge's Court gave the order after the investigation officer in the case submitted the final report requesting the court to clear Ershad and his friend Mariam Mamtaj of money laundering charges. Earlier, an official of now defunct bureau of anti-corruption filed the case with Tejgaon Police Station on September 9, 1995, accusing Ershad of unlawfully transferring $10 million to a foreign account of his friend, Mariam Mamtaj.- The Daily star June 20 2011.
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