Contempt rule issued against BB, Jamuna Bank officials

The High Court yesterday issued a contempt of court rule against the Bangladesh Bank governor, finance secretary and four others for not complying with its last year's directive regarding payment of Fixed Deposit Receipt (FDR) money to a businessman.

The four others are Jamuna Bank's chairman, general manager, deputy general manager and its Nawabpur branch manager.

The HC asked them to explain in a week why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them for not complying with the order it passed on December 2 last year.

Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam and Justice KM Kamrul Kader issued the rule after hearing a contempt of court petition filed by AIM Hasanul Mujib, a businessman in the capital's Banani area.

The petitioner's counsel Barrister ABM Altaf Hossain told The Daily Star that following a writ petition the HC directed the authorities concerned of Bangladesh Bank and Jamuna Bank to pay Tk 51 lakh to AIM Hasanul Mujib against his FDR in 30 days.

The SC's Appellate Division also upheld the HC verdict, but they did not give the money to Hasanul, which is a blatant violation of the court order and contempt of court, he said.

He said one Talebur Rahman had deposited Tk 51 lakh to the Jamuna Bank's Nawabpur branch as Mudaraba Term Deposit in 2005. The deposit became matured after five years.

Talebur later on gave power of attorney to Hasanul for drawing the FDR money from the bank, Barrister Altaf added.