Another court issued arrest warrant against Harris Chowdhury, political secretary to former prime minister Khaleda Zia, in connection with a graft case.

DIPJOL'S CONVICTION
Judge Nuruzzaman of the Metropolitan Special Tribunal-9 handed down the sentence in the case in Dipjol's absence.

The charges brought against Dipjol for possessing illegal firearms and ammunition were proved beyond doubt and so he was given the punishment, the judge said in the judgement.

The punishment of the fugitive will be effective from the day of his arrest or surrender, the judge said.

Earlier, the prosecution and the defence completed their arguments and the court recorded statements of 10 prosecution witnesses.

On January 15, the joint forces raided the Mirpur house of BNP leader and film actor Dipjol and seized huge illegal firearms and ammunition.

They seized a .22 bore rifle, a 12 bore shotgun, a magazine of .22 bore rifle and 317 rifle bullets from the first floor flat of Dipjol.

Following the seizure, Assistant Sub-Inspector Asaduzzaman of Mirpur Police Station filed an arms case against Dipjol accusing him of possessing arms and bullets illegally.

Dipjol, an accused in 12 more criminal cases including for murder, extortion and abduction, has been absconding since the raid on his house.

Dipjol was a contender for BNP ticket for January 22 parliamentary polls (later cancelled) from Dhaka-11 constituency. Failing to get BNP nomination, he decided to contest the polls as an independent candidate.

WARRANT AGAINST HARRIS
After accepting the charge sheet, Judge Mohammad Azizul Haq of the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court, Dhaka, issued arrest warrant against Harris, in connection with a graft case.

The investigation officer prayed for issuance of arrest warrant against Harris and ordered attachment of all his properties, as he has been absconding.

The case was filed on March 25, as Harris by abusing power took a private car of National Tea Company and handed it over to Badal, who is now in custody.

SALAHUDDIN CASE
The same court issued arrest warrant against wife and two sons of former BNP lawmaker Salahuddin Ahmed from Demra in the capital in a graft case.

The accused are Salahuddin's wife Shamsunnahar Ahmed and two sons -- Tanvir Ahmed and Shahriar Ahmed. Another son, Imran Ahmed was earlier granted bail from the High Court.

The IO prayed for issuance of arrest warrants against them and ordered attachment of their properties.

The case was filed on April 11, as they concealed Tk 6,45,28,342 in their wealth statements.

FARZANA CASE
The same court yesterday transferred the tax evasion case filed against Farzana Khan, daughter-in-law of former minister Shahjahan Siraj, to the Fifth Special Court set up at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar MP Hostel for its quick disposal.

Earlier, the National Board of Revenue filed the case against her for evading tax upon her income.

CHARGE AGAINST EX-BNP MP
Charge was framed against former lawmaker from Chapainawabganj-1 (Shibganj) constituency Prof Shahjahan Mia and four others in an extortion case on Thursday, reports our Chapainawabganj correspondent.

The other accused are -- Secretary of Shibaganj pourasava unit of BNP and Chairman of Shibganj pourashabha Shamim Kabir Helim, Secretary of Shibganj upazila unit of BNP Ashraful Alam Rashid, Vice-president of Shibganj upazila BNP Ashraf Ali and Principal of Babupur Idrisia Islami Technical Dakhil Madrasa Enamul Hoque. Rashid, Ashraf and Enamul Hoque have been absconding.

A teacher of the madrasa on May 9 filed the case with Shibganj Police Station for demanding Tk 80,000.