Meanwhile, hearing on the seven-day remand prayer to interrogate detained former communications minister Nazmul Huda, held in connection with an extortion case, did not proceed as he was not produced before a court.

CASE AGAINST FARZANA
Senior Special Judge Mohammad Azizul Haq of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, Dhaka issued the arrest warrant against Farzana, wife of Rajib Siraj, after Syed Zakir Hossain, deputy tax commissioner of Companies Circle of NBR, filed the case.

In the order, the judge said the arrest warrant was issued against Farzana as the charges brought against her under sections 165/166 of the Income Tax Ordinance 1984 were preliminarily found to be true. The court set deadline of July 16 for the arrest warrant's implementation.

In his complaint, Zakir said Farzana had evaded Tk 80.45 lakh in income tax during fiscal years 2004-2007.

Farzana, managing director of Garden Fresh Preservations Ltd in Savar, gave false information to the income tax department about her income and expenditure and did not show her income tax returns. She also concealed information about her real income of Tk 2.91 crore, the complainant added.

CASE AGAINST HUDA
A metropolitan magistrate yesterday fixed July 17 for hearing on a seven-day remand prayer to interrogate Huda in connection with an extortion case.

Managing Director of Uttara Motors Ltd Matiur Rahman on July 5 filed the case against Huda with Dhanmondi Police Station saying Huda had forced his company to pay Tk 1 crore.

According to the case statement, Huda threatened to kill the complainant and shutdown his business if he failed to pay.

Rahman paid Huda Tk 50 lakh in three instalments at Huda's office on December 1, 2002; Feb 19, 2003; and March 11, 2003. The rest Tk 50 lakh was given in cash at Huda's home.

The joint forces arrested Huda at his Dhanmondi home on February 4 on charges of corruption.

CASE AGAINST MOUDUD
A Dhaka court yesterday adjourned the proceedings of the case filed against former law minister Moudud Ahmed until July 15.

The case was filed in connection with possessing liquor at his home.

Judge AKM Enamul Haq of the Second Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court passed the order following a time petition from the defence lawyers as the lawyers had not received any certified copy of the High Court stay order of the case that was issued earlier.

OIL IMPORTER SUED
Ilias Brothers Ltd, a leading crude oil importer, was fined Tk 1 crore and its licence revoked on charges of tax evasion, UNB reports from Chittagong.

Customs officials said Ilias Brothers dodged Tk 8 crore of tax by hiding transactions of 15,450 tonnes of crude oil worth about Tk 22 crore.

Joint forces last week arrested Dipen Chandra Pal, an official of the company, on charge of hiding transactions.

The oil company has been asked to pay the entire money it owes to the government along with the fine (total Tk 9 crore) within a month.

MINU'S DETENTION EXTENDED
The detention of Rajshahi City Corporation Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu was extended three months yesterday, our Rajshahi University correspondent reports.

Police sources said the home ministry yesterday granted local police's appeal for the extended detention of Minu. The month-long detention Minu is serving was supposed to end on July 14. Magistrate Rabiul Alam fixed July 30 for producing Minu before the court.

On June 6, Minu was arrested in connection with an extortion case filed with Rajpara Police Station.

He obtained bail on June 11 but he was arrested again under Emergency Powers Rules 2007 a day later. He received one-month detention on June 14.

CASE AGAINST 14-PARTY
Ten leaders and activists of Awami League (AL) and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) were acquitted in the case filed in connection with obstructing police duty on January 28, 2005 in the capital.

Metropolitan Magistrate ABM Abdul Fattah acquitted them, as the charges brought against them were not proved.

The acquitted are Ashraful Haq Jhantu, Asifur Rahman Babu, Firoz Alam, Siddiqur Rahman, Mostafa Alamgir Ratan, Abdullah Al Mamun and four others.

The case was filed against them as they allegedly created obstruction to police duty during hartal hours on January 28, 2005. The hartal was called for protesting the killing of AL leader and former finance minister Shah ASM Kibria.