HC seeks trial court judge’s explanation

The High Court yesterday sought explanation from a trial court judge about granting ad-interim bail to Partha Gopal Banik, a suspended deputy inspector general (prisons) of Sylhet division, in a case filed over the recovery of Tk 80 lakh from his residence in Dhaka.

The HC ordered judge Md Iqbal Hossain of the Special Judge Court-5 of Dhaka to submit a written explanation in seven working days.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Md Mostafizur Rahman also asked authorities concerned of Channel-24, a private television channel, to submit a copy of its report that questioned the Dhaka court order over granting the bail.

The bench passed the order following an appeal filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) challenging the Dhaka court's bail order.

ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star that Judge Md Iqbal Hossain on June 17 granted bail to Banik in an "unusual manner" although there are specific allegations against him.

The Channel-24 has published a report in this regard, he said, adding that Banik got released from jail following the Dhaka court order.

On June 17, Judge Iqbal Hossain granted ad-interim bail to Banik even though the prosecution raised a serious objection.

The judge granted him bail till July 15 upon a bond of Tk 50,000 with two guarantors, one of whom must be a local guardian and the other a practicing lawyer.