Overenthusiastic lawyers filed cases against Khokon

Dhaka South City Corporation Mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh yesterday urged for the withdrawal of two cases filed on Monday against his predecessor Sayeed Khokon.

The cases were filed after Taposh said the remarks made by his predecessor against him at a human chain on Saturday were "defamatory".

"I'm not involved in the cases. Two overenthusiastic lawyers filed them. I'm requesting them to withdraw these cases," Taposh told reporters in reply to a query during a press conference at the Nagar Bhaban yesterday.

The mayor said Khokon's comments on him are "defamatory" and a decision on this issue would be taken after evaluating it.

He said he would not talk to the media on this issue from today, as it has already turned into a "farce".

Responding to a question, Taposh said illegal shop owners had earlier filed a case against the former mayor, which is under investigation, but neither he nor the DSCC is involved.

Responding to a question, the mayor said it was not their duty to take action against the former mayor but to take action against illegal shops in markets and they would continue the drive.

When asked about keeping DSCC money at Modhumoti Bank, which Taposh owns, the mayor said it is like any other private bank receiving deposits from government institutions as per rules and regulations.

He said no one would be able to prove that they did it illegally.

Taposh said there was a deficit of Tk 250 crore when he took charge as mayor and now the DSCC has earned Tk 344 crore as revenue within six months, which will increase by the next six months.

Meanwhile LGRD Minister Tazul Islam yesterday said the differences between Taposh and former mayor Khokon will be resolved in due time.

Addressing a programme at his office, he also said he heard that Taposh did not want any case to be filed against former mayor Khokon and the cases which were filed will be withdrawn.

On Monday, lawyer Md Sarwar Alam lodged a case with the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Rajesh Chowdhury and one Kazi Anisur Rahman filed another case with the same court.

After hearings of the cases, the magistrate took them into cognisance and recorded statements of the complainants. The court will pass orders later.

Former DSCC mayor Sayeed Khokon had vowed to tackle the battle in court and "on the streets".

On December 8 last year, the DSCC demolished several hundred illegal shops at Fulbaria Supermarket-2 in Gulistan, which were built violating the main design of the supermarket.

On December 29, former mayor Khokon and six others were sued on charges of embezzlement of Tk 34.89 crore.

Delwar Hossain, president of Traders-Owners Association of the supermarket, lodged the case with the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Ashek Imam.

The six other accused are: Yusuf Ali Sardar, former chief revenue officer of the city corporation, Md Mazed, former deputy assistant engineer of the city corporation, and their assistants Kamrul Hasan, Helena Akter, Atiqur Rahman Swapan and Md Walid.

According to the case statement, Khokon and six others conspired with one another and built shops, violating the main design of the supermarket.

On December 30, a Dhaka court directed the Police Bureau of Investigation to investigate the case and submit a probe report by January 31 this year.

Khokon at the human chain alleged that Taposh transferred hundreds of crores of taka from the DSCC's coffers to Modhumoti Bank, while poor employees of the DSCC were not being paid their dues for months due to a shortage of funds at the DSCC.

Also, the city corporation's different development projects were halted because of budget shortages, alleged Khokon, adding that Taposh had lost eligibility as a mayor under the city corporation law because of such acts.