Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Tuesday denied bail to Abdul Latif Siddiqui, former Textiles and Jute Minister, in a case filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on charge of misuse of power in selling a government property.
The HC Bench of Justice Shahidul Karim and Justice Md Riaz Uddin Khan said that their court would issue a rule only in this regard, but it would not grant him bail in the case.
In this circumstance, Latif Siddiqui’s lawyer took back his bail petition. But now he has the opportunity to submit the
petition in another HC Bench. Advocate Shah Monjurul Hoque appeared in the court on behalf of Latif Siddiqui, while Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan stood for the ACC.
Advocate Subrata Kumar Kundu filed the petition on September 24, 2019, on behalf of the former Minister.
On July 7, 2019, the High Court issued a rule asking the Anti-Corruption Commission and the government to explain in four weeks as to why Latif Siddiqui, who is now in jail, should not be granted bail in the case.
The HC Bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice KM Hafizul Alam issued the rule following a petition filed by the former Minister seeking bail in the case.
But on August 22, 2019, the rule was rejected by the High Court, sources said. In this circumstance, his lawyer again filed a bail petition on September 24.
ACC Assistant Director Aminul Islam lodged the case with Adamdighi Police Station in Bogura on October 10, 2017. Jahanara Rashid, wife of late Harunur Rashid in Kalitala of Adamdighi upazila, was also made accused in the case.
According to the case statement, Jahanara was leased a piece of land in Adamdighi, on May 13, 2010, owned by Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation, for three years at Tk 1.2 lakh per year. On November 13, 2011, Jahanara applied to the Ministry for purchasing the land.
Later, the then Textiles and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui, without floating any formal tender, awarded the land to Jahanara at Tk 2.39 million although its market price was Tk 6.46 million, resulting in a loss of Tk 4.06 million.
Following the incident, the ACC filed the case against Latif and Jahanara under the Penal Code and Section 5(2) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 1947.
On June 20 this year, a Bogura court sent Latif Siddiqui to jail in the case rejecting his bail petition.
The High Court on Tuesday denied bail to Abdul Latif Siddiqui, former Textiles and Jute Minister, in a case filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on charge of misuse of power in selling a government property.
The HC Bench of Justice Shahidul Karim and Justice Md Riaz Uddin Khan said that their court would issue a rule only in this regard, but it would not grant him bail in the case.
In this circumstance, Latif Siddiqui’s lawyer took back his bail petition. But now he has the opportunity to submit the
petition in another HC Bench. Advocate Shah Monjurul Hoque appeared in the court on behalf of Latif Siddiqui, while Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan stood for the ACC.
Advocate Subrata Kumar Kundu filed the petition on September 24, 2019, on behalf of the former Minister.
On July 7, 2019, the High Court issued a rule asking the Anti-Corruption Commission and the government to explain in four weeks as to why Latif Siddiqui, who is now in jail, should not be granted bail in the case.
The HC Bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice KM Hafizul Alam issued the rule following a petition filed by the former Minister seeking bail in the case.
But on August 22, 2019, the rule was rejected by the High Court, sources said. In this circumstance, his lawyer again filed a bail petition on September 24.
ACC Assistant Director Aminul Islam lodged the case with Adamdighi Police Station in Bogura on October 10, 2017. Jahanara Rashid, wife of late Harunur Rashid in Kalitala of Adamdighi upazila, was also made accused in the case.
According to the case statement, Jahanara was leased a piece of land in Adamdighi, on May 13, 2010, owned by Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation, for three years at Tk 1.2 lakh per year. On November 13, 2011, Jahanara applied to the Ministry for purchasing the land.
Later, the then Textiles and Jute Minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui, without floating any formal tender, awarded the land to Jahanara at Tk 2.39 million although its market price was Tk 6.46 million, resulting in a loss of Tk 4.06 million.
Following the incident, the ACC filed the case against Latif and Jahanara under the Penal Code and Section 5(2) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 1947.
On June 20 this year, a Bogura court sent Latif Siddiqui to jail in the case rejecting his bail petition.
