The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court Sunday granted bail for three months to detained Awami League presidium member and former state minister Dr Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir in a tax evasion case.

A division bench comprising Justice ABM Khairul Haque and Justice MA Hye passed the order upon a petition challenging the validity of the tax evasion case against Alamgir.

The Court also stayed for three weeks the case proceedings and issued a rule upon the National Board of Revenue (NBR) to explain in six weeks why the case should not be declared illegal.

On September 21, the NBR filed a case against Alamgir for concealing information of his wealth and dodging income tax of about Tk 53.15 lakh during the period from 2002 to 2007.

Assistant Tax Commissioner AKM Shahdat Hossain filed the case in the court of special judge Azizul Huq.

Barrister Rafique-ul Huq appeared for Alamgir, who is already in prison in connection with other cases.

HC defers hearing on Niko and barge-mounted power plant cases to Oct 29 UNB, Dhaka The High Court Sunday re-fixed October 29 for rule hearing on Niko and barge-mounted power plant cases against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina , now abroad on parole for treatment.

A division bench comprising Justice Sheik Rezowan Ali and Justice M Rais Uddin passed the order following a time petition moved by her counsel.

Barrister Shafique Ahmed prayed for three weeks time for consultation with his client in connection with the case.

On July 7, the High Court, following a quashing petition filed by Awami Leqgue president Sheikh Hasina, stayed the proceedings of the Niko and the barge-mounted power plant graft cases.

Passing the orders of stay, a division bench comprising Justice Khademul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Mashuque Hosain Ahmed had issued separate rules asking the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to explain why the two cases "should not be quashed".

Both the cases are now pending with the special courts set up at the parliament complex that deals with high-profile corruption cases following the 1/11 change of guards in state power.

Meanwhile, another HC division bench, upon a petition, extended stay on operation of trial proceedings against Hasina in an extortion case filed by businessman Azam J Chowdhury until the rule is disposed of. Hasina secured bail in the case.