BAGURA: A court here on Thursday (June 20) sent former Textile and Jute minister Abdul Latif Siddique in a case filed by Anti Corruption Commission (ACC). 

The court of Senior Special Judge Naresh Chandra Sarkar passed the order after rejecting his bail petition.

Latif Siddique appeared before the court and sought bail in a case filed against him for misusing power and damaging government property.

Senior lawyers of Bogra Bar Advocate Al Mahmud, Advocate Naresh Mukherjee and Advocate Helaluddin appealed for bail on behalf of the minister while  Advocate Abul Kalam Azad moved for ACC.

Earlier, an arrest warrant was issued against the sacked minister.

On October 17, 2018, ACC assistant director Aminul Islam filed the case against the ex-minister and Jahanara Rashid, wife of late Harunur Rashid, from Kalitala of the district with Adamdighi Police Station.

According to the case statement, Jahanara Rashid took lease a piece of land in Adamdighi upazila of Bogra, owned by Bangladesh Jute Corporation, for three years at Tk 1.20 lakh per year on May 13, 2010. 

Instead of replying repeated order from the Textiles and Jute Ministry to pay rent for the 2.38 acre land, Jahanara applied to the Textile and Jute Ministry to purchase the land on November 13, 2011.

Without floating any formal tender, the then Textiles and Jute Minister sold the land to Jahanara at Tk 23.94 lakh instead of its market price Tk 64.63 lakh, incurring a loss of Tk 40.69 lakh.  

Later, the ACC filed the case against Latif Siddique and Jahanara under sections 409/109 the Penal Code and section 5(2) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 1947.

Later on February 7, 2019 ACC charge-sheeted two persons, including former Textiles and Jute Minister Latif Siddique, for incurring a loss of Tk 40.69 lakh of the government through selling land of Bangladesh Jute Mill Corporation (BJMC).

BDST: 1546 HRS, JUNE 20, 2019
RS/SMS