The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The Anti-Corruption Commission now intensified its move to fight the cases filed by the ACC under the anti-graft purge but stayed by the High Court, with the priority put on dealing with the cases involving VIPs.

As part of the stoked-up efforts, ACC chairman Lt Gen (retd) Hasan Mashhud Chowdhury yesterday held lengthy meetings with the attorney general and the panel of Commission's lawyers, sources said.

The ACC chairman drove to the residence of eminent lawyer Dr Kamal Hossain for seeking his legal advice.

During the meeting with attorney-general Salauddin Ahmed, the ACC chief sought cooperation from the office of Attorney General in running the cases stayed put, in what looked like a turnabout from the post-1/11 crackdown that had thrown many high-profile persons, including two former premiers, behind bars.

They also discussed specific ways of a fight-back in the cases through coordination between the lawyers of the state and the Commission.

The meeting decided to take preparation for fighting the cases with full force of their legal weapons. Mashhud and Salauddin also talked about rule hearings of the graft cases.

In the meeting between the ACC chairman and 20-25 panel lawyers, a decision was taken as to how the rule hearings could be held on priority basis after the vacation of the High Court.

The meeting identified the problems that might come up during the hearings and the lawyers were asked to be "careful about the problems".

A senior ACC official said there is not much similarity between the information provided by the writ petitioners and those in the ACC files.

"This point will be raised in the courts."

Some 300 corruption cases have been stayed following writ petitions filed by the accused, he informed.

The cases stayed by the High Court have been divided into three categories, and the lawyers have been instructed for trying to get the cases disposed of in the shortest possible time.

The ACC lawyers have also been directed to hold the rule hearings of the cases involving the VIPs.

Three division benches of the High Court have been designated to hear the pending rules.

Awami League president Sheikh Hasina's personal physician Syed Mudasser Ali has asked additional attorney general Mansur Habib to seek apology for his remarks on the former premier's health condition.

"His remarks were completely immoral and unscientific. He must seek apology to the nation or come up with evidence to defend himself," Dr Mudasser told reporters at his Dhanmondi chamber.

He said Sheikh Hasina is still suffering from blood pressure and severe problems in her eyes and ears.