Decision on Moeen's petition Jan 10

A Dhaka court yesterday fixed January 10 next year to decide whether the petition for dismissal of the plaint filed by former army chief General Moeen U Ahmed in a defamation case would be rejected.
Judge SM Saiful Islam of the Third Joint District Judge's Court fixed the date after holding hearing on the both sides.
On July 12 this year, former state minister for power Iqbal Hasan Mahmood Tuku filed the Tk 100 crore defamation case against General Moeen with the same court.
On September 8, the former army chief filed the petition before the same court seeking dismissal of the suit.
During the hearing, Moeen's counsels told the court that the plaintiff had filed the suit against their client just to harass him. The case is not maintainable at this stage as it was filed two years after the incident took place. Moreover, the plaintiff had no legal basis for filing of the suit against their client, counsels said.
On the contrary, plaintiff's lawyers told the court that former army chief as a servant of the republic had no jurisdiction to comment on any matters against any persons. The comments that the defendant made against their client had hurt him and it had tarnished his image in the society. So, the suit filed by their client should be maintained, lawyers added.
Tuku filed the defamation suit, accusing the former general of making derogatory remarks that damaged his (Tuku's) reputation.
On March 27, 2007 General Moeen at a tea party in honour of the freedom fighters at National Parade Square said corrupt politicians had siphoned off at least Tk 20,000 crore from the energy sector during the four-party rule, reads the complaint.