Patal gets bail in income tax evasion case

A Dhaka court yesterday granted bail to former state minister for youth and sports Fazlur Rahman Patal in connection with evading Tk 7.50 lakh income tax for the 2005-2006 fiscal year.
Judge ANM Bashir Ullah of the Senior Special Judge's Court passed the order after Patal along with his lawyers appeared before the court for bail in the case.
The court granted bail to the BNP leader upon a bond of Tk 50,000 with two guarantors.
The court also transferred the case to the Special Judge's Court-1 for its trial fixing April 13 for hearing on charge framing against the accused.
The same court on March 1 issued an arrest warrant against him after the National Board of Revenue (NBR) filed the case.
In the case statement, NBR Deputy Tax Commissioner Mizanur Rahman said Patal evaded Tk 7.50 lakh income tax on his income of Tk 26.10 lakh for the 2005-2006 fiscal year.
He provided false information about his real income and expenditure, even though he was a minister, alleged the NBR statement.
On May 28 of 2007, the joint forces arrested Patal on charge of disrupting public safety and destabilising the country, subversive activities and corruption. He also was given 30 days' detention order.
He was later sued for acquiring wealth through illegal means and concealing his wealth statement to the Anti-Corruption Commission.