Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Thursday wanted to know from the respondents what steps have been taken to bring back Proshanta Kumar Halder, widely known as PK Halder, to the country and to arrest him.
Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Secretary of the Home Ministry and Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka have been asked to comply with the queries within 10 days.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam
Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel came up with the order on a Suo Moto (Voluntary) move following a news report published in a Bangla daily on November 18 this year.
PK Halder allegedly swindled billions from a number of banks and financial institutions and fled the country some months ago.
The court also issued a rule over the issue asking the respondents to explain in 10 days as to why they should not be directed to take proper initiatives bring back PK Halder and to arrest him.
During the proceedings, the HC bench observed that PK Halder has fled the country after misappropriating thousands of crores of money but he was not arrested— “as if he is showing thumbs to the people, which is not acceptable”. Nobody, including PK Halder, is above the law, the HC said.
The court also observed, “We think we need to know if appropriate steps have been taken to bring him back.”
Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan was present in the court on behalf of the ACC and deputy attorney general AKM Amin Uddin Manik was present for the state during the court proceedings. The court fixed December 2 for passing further order over the issue, said Amin Uddin Manik.
Earlier on November 17 ACC counsel Khurshid Alam Khan said that the ACC will immediately send letter seeking help from the Interpol, an International Criminal Police Organization, to bring back Proshanta Kumar Halder to the country.
In a briefing the lawyer also said, “The ACC is trying very hard to arrest him through Interpol and the initial formalities are over. The letter may be issued to the Interpol soon.”
Recently International Leasing and Financial Services Limited (ILFSL), a non-bank financial institution, informed the company bench of the High Court on October 21 this year that PK Halder would come back to the country on October 25 this year, but he didn’t.
Following a petition, the company bench of Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar on the same day ordered the law enforcing agencies to arrest PK Halder immediate after stepping out of the flight.
The law enforcers were also directed to send him to the competent court of law showing execution of the arrest warrant.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), immigration authorities and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had been asked to comply with the order by ensuring his arrest.
The High Court Bench of Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the International Leasing and Financial Services Limited following its consultation with Halder in this connection.
But on October 24, his lawyer informed the Attorney General through an email that PK Halder was not able to come back to the country as he had been affected with Covid-19.
Barrister Mahfuzur Rahman Milon, who appeared in the court on behalf of ILFSL, earlier said that Halder recently communicated with the company, saying that he wanted to return to the country under the court custody to pay the money that he had embezzled.
“Then the ILFSL board took a decision to recover the money, embezzled by Halder, by bringing him back to the country. As per the decision, ILFSL decided to file an application with the High Court, seeking its directive to allow him to return to the country under the court custody on condition that he would pay the money that he had embezzled,” added the lawyer.
The court on September 7 this year admitted it and issued an order asking the ILFSL to inform the court about his arrival time, date and flight number etc, and then the court would pass further order on the issue.
The ILFSL on October 20 informed the court that he would return to the country on October 25 and they submitted the copy of the tickets of the Emirates Airlines in the High Court. After receiving the copy of the tickets the High Court passed further order on October 21.
The High Court on Thursday wanted to know from the respondents what steps have been taken to bring back Proshanta Kumar Halder, widely known as PK Halder, to the country and to arrest him.
Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Secretary of the Home Ministry and Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka have been asked to comply with the queries within 10 days.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam
Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel came up with the order on a Suo Moto (Voluntary) move following a news report published in a Bangla daily on November 18 this year.
PK Halder allegedly swindled billions from a number of banks and financial institutions and fled the country some months ago.
The court also issued a rule over the issue asking the respondents to explain in 10 days as to why they should not be directed to take proper initiatives bring back PK Halder and to arrest him.
During the proceedings, the HC bench observed that PK Halder has fled the country after misappropriating thousands of crores of money but he was not arrested— “as if he is showing thumbs to the people, which is not acceptable”. Nobody, including PK Halder, is above the law, the HC said.
The court also observed, “We think we need to know if appropriate steps have been taken to bring him back.”
Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan was present in the court on behalf of the ACC and deputy attorney general AKM Amin Uddin Manik was present for the state during the court proceedings. The court fixed December 2 for passing further order over the issue, said Amin Uddin Manik.
Earlier on November 17 ACC counsel Khurshid Alam Khan said that the ACC will immediately send letter seeking help from the Interpol, an International Criminal Police Organization, to bring back Proshanta Kumar Halder to the country.
In a briefing the lawyer also said, “The ACC is trying very hard to arrest him through Interpol and the initial formalities are over. The letter may be issued to the Interpol soon.”
Recently International Leasing and Financial Services Limited (ILFSL), a non-bank financial institution, informed the company bench of the High Court on October 21 this year that PK Halder would come back to the country on October 25 this year, but he didn’t.
Following a petition, the company bench of Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar on the same day ordered the law enforcing agencies to arrest PK Halder immediate after stepping out of the flight.
The law enforcers were also directed to send him to the competent court of law showing execution of the arrest warrant.
Inspector General of Police (IGP), immigration authorities and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had been asked to comply with the order by ensuring his arrest.
The High Court Bench of Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the International Leasing and Financial Services Limited following its consultation with Halder in this connection.
But on October 24, his lawyer informed the Attorney General through an email that PK Halder was not able to come back to the country as he had been affected with Covid-19.
Barrister Mahfuzur Rahman Milon, who appeared in the court on behalf of ILFSL, earlier said that Halder recently communicated with the company, saying that he wanted to return to the country under the court custody to pay the money that he had embezzled.
“Then the ILFSL board took a decision to recover the money, embezzled by Halder, by bringing him back to the country. As per the decision, ILFSL decided to file an application with the High Court, seeking its directive to allow him to return to the country under the court custody on condition that he would pay the money that he had embezzled,” added the lawyer.
The court on September 7 this year admitted it and issued an order asking the ILFSL to inform the court about his arrival time, date and flight number etc, and then the court would pass further order on the issue.
The ILFSL on October 20 informed the court that he would return to the country on October 25 and they submitted the copy of the tickets of the Emirates Airlines in the High Court. After receiving the copy of the tickets the High Court passed further order on October 21.
