Proceedings of the arms case against detained former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar was adjourned while the hearing on charge framing against detained ntv managing director (MD) Enayetur Rahman Bappi and two others will be held on August 9.

Judge Sayed Jahed Mansur of the Metropolitan Special Tribunal-9 framed charges against Harris and fixed August 9 for beginning trial of the case.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Babul Hossain of Gulshan Police Station, who is also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM), Dhaka, showing 18 people as prosecution witnesses.

Following the charge sheet, the court had issued arrest warrant against Harris and ordered attachment of all his moveable and immovable properties.

On February 4, the joint forces seized two briefcases with the currencies from Harris' Gulshan residence. The foreign currencies were found when the briefcases were opened on April 2 in the presence of Metropolitan Magistrate Mir Ali Reza, sources said.

According to the statement, Harris hoarded foreign currencies worth about Tk 5.64 lakh with a plan to smuggle those abroad.

On April 9, Gulshan police filed the case against Harris under the Money Laundering Act.

The same court yesterday adjourned the proceedings of the arms case against Babar following a time petition by the defence lawyers.

In the petition, the lawyers mentioned that they had earlier filed a criminal appeal with the High Court (HC) against the order of framing charges against their client on July 25. The matter is now on the list hearing. So, the hearing of the case at the lower court should be adjourned until the HC matter is disposed of.

The army-led joint forces recovered a shotgun, a rifle, a pistol, and a revolver, two magazines and 297 bullets during a raid in Babar's Gulshan residence on May 28.

CASE AGAINST BAPPI

Judge Mohammad Azizul Haq of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court fixed August 9 for hearing on charge framing against Bappi, detained ex-BNP lawmaker Harunur Rashid and a businessman Istiaq Sadiq in a graft case.

ACC Assistant Director Monayem Hossain, also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, yesterday submitted the charge sheet to the CMM, Dhaka, against Bappi and others.

On March 7, police arrested Bappi, ex-MP Harunur Rashid of Chapainawabganj and owner of Sky Auto Istiaq Sadiq at their residences.

They were arrested for tax evasion in importing a luxurious vehicle by abusing duty-free car import privilege for the members of parliament (MP).

Harunur Rashid purchased the vehicle, a Hummer H2, on April 25, 2005 using his duty-free privilege and sold it to Istiaq violating rules. Istiaq later sold the vehicle to Bappi.

BASHUNDHARA CASE
The same court yesterday asked the authorities concerned to publish an advertisement in two national Bangla dailies asking Basundhara Group chairman and five others to surrender to the court within three days in a tax evasion case.

Earlier on July 25, the court had issued arrest warrants against them after Kabiruddin Mollah, deputy tax commissioner of Circle-8, filed the case.

The accused are Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan Shah Alam, its managing director and also Sobhan's wife Afroza Begum, their sons-- directors Sadat Sobhan, Safayet Sobhan and Sayem Sobhan, and MM Kuddus, proprietor of Kuddus & Company.

In his complaint, Kabir mentioned that Shah Alam and others had evaded a total of Tk 8,48,15,746 in income tax during fiscal years 2004 to 2007.