Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Monday stayed the Bangladesh Bank attempt that showed Obaidul Karim, chairman of Orion Group, as a loan defaulter.
The court stayed the central bank’s loan defaulters’ list in case of Obaidul Karim and issued a ruling upon the respondents to explain as to why their attempt to enlist Obaidul Karim as a loan defaulter should not be declared illegal.
The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Sardar Md Rashed Jahangir passed the order after holding hearing on a writ petition filed in this regard.
Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud and Barrister Khairul Alam Chowdhury appeared in the court on behalf of Obaidul Karim, while deputy attorney general Bipul Bagmar represented the state.
Obaidul Karim’s name has been showing in the loan defaulters’ lists published by the Bangladesh Bank as Orion Group chairman bought some shares, 12.8 percent, from Amar Desh Publications Limited which is a loan defaulter of ICB Islamic Bank.
Barrister Khairul Alam Chowdhury later said, “Orion Group chairman bought some shares, 12.8 percent, from Amar Desh Publications Limited which is a loan defaulter of ICB Islamic Bank. Orion Group chairman is not a director of the publications or not a guarantor of the loan received by the publications. In addition, the Orion Group chairman does not own the minimum amount of shares which is needed to be a defaulter.”
The lawyer also said the inclusion of his name in the defaulters list was troubling the businessman to get new loan.
“Challenging the lists published by the Bangladesh Bank we filed a writ petition last week. After hearing our petition the HC stayed the list in case of Obaidul Karim and issued a ruling,” added the lawyer.
