A Dhaka court, meanwhile, adjourned the proceedings of a criminal case filed under the Public Safety Act against detained former law minister barrister Moudud Ahmed, former state minister for labour and employment Aman Ullah Aman and three other former BNP lawmakers.

CASE AGAINST BABAR
Sub-inspector Mohammad Khabir Ahmed of Gulshan Police Station, who is also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, yesterday submitted the charge sheet against Babar before the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka showing 16 people as prosecution witnesses.

This is the first time police pressed charges against Babar in connection with possessing arms illegally.

SI Helal Uddin of Gulshan Police Station filed the case against Babar on June 3 under the Arms Act.

In his charge sheet, the IO mentioned that the charges brought against Babar were preliminarily proved. So, he should be tried. The charge sheet will be placed before the court tomorrow.

The army-led joint forces recovered four firearms--a shotgun, a rifle, a pistol, and a Brazilian revolver--two magazines, and 297 bullets during a raid in Babar's Gulshan home on May 28.

Police said Babar failed to show any documents for the foreign revolver.

Following his arrest that day, Babar was taken on a four-day remand in connection with possessing illegal firearms and ammunition.

FALU ON REMAND
A Dhaka court yesterday placed Falu, political secretary to former prime minister Khaleda Zia, on a five-day fresh remand in a case filed in connection with misappropriating government relief materials. The case was filed with Ashulia Police Station.

Magistrate Salma Siddiqua Mahtab passed the order after the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) produced Falu before the court on completion of his four-day remand in a case filed in connection with misappropriating government property with Tejgaon Police Station.

The IO Sheikh Abdus Salam of the case filed with Ashulia Police Station produced the accused before the court and sought a seven-day remand yesterday.

In the forwarding report, the IO said Falu needs to be quizzed about the seized materials from his factory at Savar.

The army-led joint forces seized government relief materials from the Savar site of a factory owned by Falu on February 9.

Following the seizure, Ashulia police filed the case against Falu and several other unnamed officials and employees of the factory.

According to the prosecution, the army-led joint forces on special duty came to know on January 9 that Falu, owner and chairman of the Dhaka Shanghai Ceramics Factory at Gohailbari of Savar, built 40 feet by 50 feet houses for his workers.

The forces dismantled six such houses constructed on the factory premises with corrugated iron (CI) sheets, which are government relief materials.

Six hundred and fifty pieces of CI sheets worth around Tk 4 lakh bear the inscriptions, "Relief materials of Relief and Rehabilitation Department: Not for sale".

Falu, also the owner of private satellite television channels ntv and Rtv and daily newspaper Amar Desh, was arrested at his Cantonment home on February 6.

Earlier, the IO of the case filed with Tejgaon Police Station brought Falu before the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Jagannath Das Khokon on completion of his four-day remand.

The IO in his forwarding report said Falu gave important information about the seized government materials from the office of a ward commissioner of his constituency. So, he needs to be confined to jail until the investigation of the case completes.

After the hearing, Magistrate Jagannath Das Khokon ordered him to be sent to jail. Falu was placed on seven days' remand in two phases in connection with the same case earlier.

On March 2, security personnel had recovered 605 corrugated iron (CI) sheets and 63 blankets meant for government relief only at a ward commissioner's office in Tejgaon in the capital.

CASE AGAINST MOUDUD
Judge Mohammad Azizul Haq of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court yesterday adjourned the hearing, for the second time, of the case against Moudud until June 28 following a time petition by the defence lawyers.

The complainant of the case had appeared before the court to record his statement.

In the yesterday's petition, Moudud's lawyers mentioned that they had filed a petition with the High Court (HC) seeking quashing of the case and the matter is pending for hearing.

So, the recording of statements of the witnesses should be adjourned until the HC decides, said the lawyers.

The prosecution told the court that the law has given a specific time limit to dispose the case.

On hearing both sides, the court fixed the next date and transferred the case to another court for quick disposal.

Mohamamd Obaidul Haque, officer-in-charge of Gulshan Police Station, also the IO of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM), Dhaka on May 28 showing 10 people as prosecution witnesses.

The joint forces apprehended Moudud, also an influential BNP leader, on April 13 raiding his Gulshan home in the capital. The forces also seized various documents and 220 saris meant for government relief to the poor.

Later, a case was filed against Moudud, a member of BNP standing committee, under Section 25 (B) of the Special Powers Act, 1974 for obtaining foreign liquors evading government tax.

In the charge sheet, the IO mentioned that the charges brought against Moudud were preliminarily proved and he should be brought to justice.

Following his arrest, Moudud was taken on a four-day remand for interrogation. On March 25, the National Board of Revenue directed banks to freeze the accounts of Moudud Ahmed and his wife.

Moudud served as a minister in three cabinets since the country's independence in 1971. He also served autocrat ruler HM Ershad's government as a prime minister and as vice-president.

CASE AGAINST AMAN
A Dhaka court yesterday fixed July 20 for hearing on charge framing against Aman and three others in a case filed under the Public Safety Act.

The three others are BNP lawmakers Nazim Uddin Alam, Alamgir Hossain and Joynal Abedin Faruque.

Judge Khondaker Kamaluzzaman of the Public Safety Court issued arrest warrants against Nazim and Alamgir.

According to the prosecution, Aman and others exploded bombs in front of Anjuman Mufidul Islam office to create panic during hartal hours around 4:15pm on April 9, 2001.

CASE AGAINST MUNSHI
Judge Mohammad Azizul Haq of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court yesterday sent the graft case filed against BNP lawmaker Manzurul Ahsan Munshi and three of his family members to a special court for trial.

The three family members are Manzurul's wife Mazeda Ahsan Munshi, two sons barrister Rizviul Ahsan Munshi and Rizwanul Ahsan Munshi.

The case was transferred to the Fifth Special Court--set up at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar MP Hostel--for its quick disposal.

The case was filed on March 27 against them in connection with submitting false wealth statements before the ACC.

On June 17, the ACC pressed charges against them in connection with the case filed with Gulshan Police Station.