Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Sunday wanted the Ekattor TV to explain their role in broadcasting the interview of Proshanta Kumar Halder, popularly known as PK Halder, who allegedly swindled billions from a number of banks and financial institutions and fled the country.
The court asked the said channel to place their statements in written or verbally explaining their position while broadcasting the interview of PK Halder by January 17 next.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel passed the order after holding hearing on a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) seeking its directives for issuing contempt of court proceedings against Ekattor TV for broadcasting the interviews.
Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan appeared in the hearing on behalf of the ACC, while Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state.
Ekattor TV, a private TV channel of the country, aired a live talk show program on December 28 last year under the banner of ‘Ekattor Journal’, connecting PK Halder, an absconding accused in some money laundering cases.
The channel also aired an interview of PK Halder in their news program on the same day.
Later the lawyer of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Khurshid Alam Khan, brought the matter to the attention of the High Court in written on December 29.
After hearing the matter, the High Court on that day issued an injunction upon publishing and broadcasting statements, interviews and talk shows of any convicted and fugitive accused, including PK Halder.
All types of print media, electronic media and social media were asked to maintain the directive till further order of the court or till disposing of the ruling issues regarding PK Halder.
Besides, the court ordered the Ekattor TV authorities to submit the video clips of PK Halder aired by the television channel in their news and talk show programs before the registrar office of the High Court division of the Supreme Court by January 10.
To comply with the High Court order the Ekattor TV authorities submitted a copy of the video clips in the registrar office of the High Court division on Sunday.
During the hearing the ACC lawyer prayed to the court to issue contempt of court ruling against Ekattor TV authorities, its journalist and presenter for broadcasting an interview of an absconding accused.
After completing the hearing the court asked the authorities of the Ekattor TV to place their explanation over their role in broadcasting the interview of Proshanta Kumar Halder.
Halder while officiating as the managing director of Reliance Finance Ltd, a non-banking financial institution, had made his relatives directors of three other leasing companies to swindle money. Together, they had allegedly misappropriated an estimated Tk 35 billion from four NBFIs and left the country last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission found in its enquiry.
The NBFIs are ILFSL, Peoples’ Leasing and Financial Services Ltd, Reliance Finance Ltd and FAS Finance and Investment Ltd.
The High Court on Sunday wanted the Ekattor TV to explain their role in broadcasting the interview of Proshanta Kumar Halder, popularly known as PK Halder, who allegedly swindled billions from a number of banks and financial institutions and fled the country.
The court asked the said channel to place their statements in written or verbally explaining their position while broadcasting the interview of PK Halder by January 17 next.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel passed the order after holding hearing on a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) seeking its directives for issuing contempt of court proceedings against Ekattor TV for broadcasting the interviews.
Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan appeared in the hearing on behalf of the ACC, while Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state.
Ekattor TV, a private TV channel of the country, aired a live talk show program on December 28 last year under the banner of ‘Ekattor Journal’, connecting PK Halder, an absconding accused in some money laundering cases.
The channel also aired an interview of PK Halder in their news program on the same day.
Later the lawyer of the Anti-Corruption Commission, Khurshid Alam Khan, brought the matter to the attention of the High Court in written on December 29.
After hearing the matter, the High Court on that day issued an injunction upon publishing and broadcasting statements, interviews and talk shows of any convicted and fugitive accused, including PK Halder.
All types of print media, electronic media and social media were asked to maintain the directive till further order of the court or till disposing of the ruling issues regarding PK Halder.
Besides, the court ordered the Ekattor TV authorities to submit the video clips of PK Halder aired by the television channel in their news and talk show programs before the registrar office of the High Court division of the Supreme Court by January 10.
To comply with the High Court order the Ekattor TV authorities submitted a copy of the video clips in the registrar office of the High Court division on Sunday.
During the hearing the ACC lawyer prayed to the court to issue contempt of court ruling against Ekattor TV authorities, its journalist and presenter for broadcasting an interview of an absconding accused.
After completing the hearing the court asked the authorities of the Ekattor TV to place their explanation over their role in broadcasting the interview of Proshanta Kumar Halder.
Halder while officiating as the managing director of Reliance Finance Ltd, a non-banking financial institution, had made his relatives directors of three other leasing companies to swindle money. Together, they had allegedly misappropriated an estimated Tk 35 billion from four NBFIs and left the country last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission found in its enquiry.
The NBFIs are ILFSL, Peoples’ Leasing and Financial Services Ltd, Reliance Finance Ltd and FAS Finance and Investment Ltd.
