Meantime, a Dhaka court will frame charges on June 3 against detained former home minister Mohammad Nasim in connection with a graft case.

Another special court yesterday adjourned the proceedings of the graft case against controversial businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun until May 22.

HUDA CASE
Police Inspector Syed Nazrul Islam, who is also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted the charge sheet to a first class magistrate's court, Dhaka against Huda and two others showing 17 people as prosecution witnesses.

The two others, Monir Hossain and Haider Ali, have been absconding since the incidents. The IO prayed for issuance of arrest warrants against them.

The charge sheet will be placed on May 28 for hearing on acceptance of it.

The charge sheet said the charges brought against Huda and others are primarily proved and they should be brought to justice.

On March 6, Mohammad Salahuddin of Nurpur of Dohar upazila in Dhaka district accused Huda and his men of beating him severely that risked his life on October 28 last year.

As per direction of Huda, the two others also took Tk 17, 700 from the complainant and asked him not to disclose it to anyone.

NASIM CASE
Judge Malik Abdullah Al Amin of the Special Court for Dhaka Division fixed June for hearing on charge framing against Nasim and AHS Rahman, director of Consosietes Limited, in connection with a graft case filed five years back.

Under a tight security, Nasim was produced before the court at 11:30am while Rahman was absent there due to his illness.

Mohammad Abdul Hai, an official of now defunct Bureau of Anti-Corruption, pressed charges against them on June 13, 2002.

Following the submission of charge sheet, Nasim and Rahman submitted separate criminal miscellaneous petitions to the High Court (HC) challenging the legality of the proceedings of the case. The higher court had earlier rejected their petitions saying that the charges brought against them would be proceeded with.

In the case filed with Ramna Police Station, the complainant said in order to 'illegally award' a contract to the WorldTel to install three lakh telephones, Nasim had appointed a private firm, Consosietes Ltd, the consultancy without any competitive bidding.

"Accordingly, the consultancy made 'fictitious' recommendations for the WorldTel, the lone bidder of the project, to 'make its financial proposal look lucrative'.

"In reality, the project was awarded to the WorldTel without any competition.

"Although there was no fund for appointment of a consultant, Nasim appointed Consosietes to the post and made the WorldTel pay for the fee. So, while Consosietes was on the payroll of WorldTel, it was also given the task to evaluate the latter's financial proposal."

The matter has harmed the country's interest, the FIR said

MAMUN CASE
A special court could not begin the trial of the graft case against controversial businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun, as he was not produced before the court due to illness yesterday.

Judge Mohammad Ashraf Hossain of the Fifth Special Court, set up at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar MP Hostel, fixed May 22 for next hearing of the case.

Two prosecution witnesses including the complainant of the case appeared before the court yesterday to give their deposition.

Earlier on May 14, the same court framed charges against Mamun, a close friend of BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Assistant Director SMM Akhter Hamid Bhuiyan filed the case on April 5 with the sessions judge's court seeking an arrest warrant against Mamun for not submitting his wealth statement to the commission within the stipulated time.

Following the case, the court issued arrest warrant against Mamun and directed the authorities concerned to send a copy of the arrest warrant to the police station concerned. It also directed the police station to submit a report to the court within the next scheduled date.

The court fixed May 17 for trial of the case and summoned the complainant and other witnesses to appear on the scheduled date.

As Judge Mohammad Ashraf Hossain of the Fifth Special Court read out the charges against Mamun, he pleaded not guilty and sought justice from the court.

On February 18, the ACC directed Mamun to submit his wealth statement within 72 hours, but neither he nor any representatives on his behalf submitted the statement.

PINTU CASE
Another Dhaka court yesterday re-fixed May 29 for hearing on charge framing against detained former BNP lawmaker Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu in an attempted murder case filed with Hazaribagh Police Station.

Second Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Abdus Salam Miah adjourned the hearing on charge framing, as Pintu was not produced before the court yesterday.

Sub-Inspector Tajul Islam, IO of the case, pressed charges against Pintu on May 6 in an attempted murder case.

On June 26 last year, Pintu called BNP worker Kabir out of his house and beat him up ruthlessly with a hockey stick for 'tarnishing' the image of the BNP leader, the IO said. The former lawmaker dumped Kabir in a nearby dustbin with fractured limbs and injuries to the head.

When Kabir was able to go to the police and wanted to lodge a complaint against Pintu, Hazaribagh police refused to accept the complaint.

Later, acting on a court order, Hazaribagh police investigated the incident and found Pintu guilty.

On February 15 this year, Pintu surrendered to the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate and sought bail, but the court rejected his bail prayer and sent him to jail.