‘Take action against Menon’
Legal notice served on home ministry
A Supreme Court lawyer yesterday served a legal notice on the home ministry, requesting it to take necessary action against Rashed Khan Menon, chairman of the governing body of Young Men’s Club -- for his alleged involvement in running a casino.
Advocate Eunus Ali Akond sent the legal notice saying, “the law enforcers did not take any action against the said chairman [Menon] though some others were arrested”.
“As per news, I came to know that Rahsed Khan Menon, MP of Dhaka-8 constituency, is the chairman of governing body of Young Men’s Club in Fakirerpool, Motijheel, Dhaka, and the said MP inaugurated the casino... His photograph was also seen at the chairman’s room in Young Men’s Club,” Akond said in the legal notice.
The legal notice further reads, “The said member of parliament is liable for joint crimes as defined under sections 3, 4 and 15 of the Public Gambling Act. He is a lawmaker, but he has violated Article 18(2) of the constitution and gambling act.”
According to Article 18(2) of the constitution, the state shall adopt effective measures to prevent prostitution and gambling, he said in the legal notice.
“Such action of the said MP is unconstitutional and it is a sedition charge as defined under Article 7A of the constitution and is punishable under the Penal Code,” Akond said in the legal notice.
The lawyer requested authorities concerned to reply to the legal notice in 24 hours and said that he would file a writ petition with the
High Court for necessary order if they do not respond.
The legal notice also said that Md Muhibul Haque, secretary to the ministry of civil aviation and tourism, decided on September 24 in presence of Mahbub Ali, state minister for civil aviation and tourism, that they will set up casinos for foreigners. The decision is unconstitutional, Akond said in the legal notice.
Eunus Ali Akond sent the same legal notice to Rashed Khan Menon, state minister for civil aviation and tourism and its secretary, and Md Shamsul Huq Chowdhury, MP and whip of Jatiya Sangsad.