The same court will decide on April 16 whether the properties of Harris Chowdhury, political secretary to former prime minister Khaleda Zia, will be attached in connection with a graft case filed against him by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The same court also fixed April 15 for hearing on charge framing against BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman's close friend and controversial businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun in connection with the graft case filed against him.

Judge Momin Ullah of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, Dhaka passed the order in presence of Mamun while Harris was absent during the hearing of the cases.

On April 5, ACC Deputy Director Abu Sayeed filed the case against Harris and the commission's Assistant Director SMM Akhter Hamid Bhuiyan lodged the case against Mamun for not submitting their wealth statements to the commission within the stipulated time.

Following the cases, the Sessions Judge's Court issued arrest warrants against them and directed the authorities concerned to send a copy of the arrest warrants to the police stations concerned.

On February 18, the ACC had directed Harris and Mamun to submit their wealth statements within 72 hours, but neither they nor any representatives on their behalf submitted the statements. The anti-graft body at a meeting on March 29 gave approval for filing of the cases, sources said.

ARMS CASE AGAINST HUDA
The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's (CMM's) Court yesterday transferred the arms case filed against detained former communications minister Nazmul Huda to the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court for trial.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Amirul Islam of Dhanmondi Police Station, who is also the investigation officer (IO) of Huda's case, submitted the charge sheet to the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka on Tuesday showing 17 people as prosecution witnesses.

The joint forces seized a revolver, 14 bullets, a huge amount of local and foreign currencies, four passports and a mobile phone set from Huda's Dhanmondi residence and arrested him on February 4.

In the charge sheet, the IO mentioned that the seized revolver and bullets were in illegal possession, as he (Huda) did not renew the validity of the firearm and ammunition.

The case was filed under the Arms Act on March 8.

SI AKM Monzurul Haq Akand filed another case on February 15 under the Money Laundering Act for illegally possessing a huge amount of foreign and local currencies.

The seized currencies include Tk 18,68,470 and 1,796 Singapore dollars, 1,350 pounds, 300 euros and 18 dinars.

CASE AGAINST CHOWDHURY ALAM
Another Dhaka court yesterday accepted the charge sheet against Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) Ward Commissioner Chowdhury Alam in the extortion of Tk 50 lakh in October 2005.

After scrutinising the case docket and other relevant documents, Metropolitan Magistrate Mir Ali Reza passed the order and took up the case for trial.

The IO Sub-Inspector Amzad Hossain submitted the charge sheet against Alam on April 10, showing 12 people as prosecution witnesses.

According to the prosecution, Alam took Tk 50 lakh as extortion from a DCC listed contractor on October 26, 2005.