HC asks Kushtia DC not to use curtains on doors, windows of his office

The High Court (HC) on Monday issued a stern warning to Kushtia's Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Saidul Islam while hearing a contempt of court rule issued on charge of his inaction to prevent handing over the possession of a property worth Tk 133 crore, which was sold at an auction for Tk 15 crore, in violation of a court order.
Cautioning the DC, the HC bench of Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman and Justice AKM Rabiul Hassan asked him not to use heavy curtains on the doors and windows of his office room and to keep his office room always open for the people.
"Our experience says how luxurious life you are habituated to lead and how you exercise your power. We are sorry to say ordinary people cannot enter the offices of the deputy commissioners and they cannot place their problems. Your offices are kept covered with heavy curtains and therefore, people cannot even see your appearance," the bench also said, indicating the DC.
"Let the common people see your appearance in the office room. So don't use heavy curtains on the windows and doors of your office room," the court added.
The HC bench, however, exonerated DC Saidul Islam from personal appearance before it in connection with the rule and fixed October 24 for further hearing on the rule.
Four other respondents - managing director of BRAC Bank, Kushtia's superintendent of police, officer-in-charge of Kushtia Sadar Police Station and buyer of the property Abdur Rashid - have also been asked to appear before the HC bench on October 24 during hearing of the rule.
Earlier in the day, DC Saidul Islam appeared before the HC bench in compliance with its earlier directive.
On August 11 this year, the HC bench summoned Kushtia's DC Saidul Islam and Superintendent of Police Md Khairul Alam, BRAC Bank Limited's Managing Director Selim RF Hussain and two others, directing them to appear before the court on August 21 to explain their position in handing over the possession of the property.
The HC court also issued a rule asking the five people to explain as to why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them for handing over the possession of the property worth Tk 133 crore in violation of the court order.
The bench issued the summon order and rule following a contempt of court petition filed by Shafiqul Islam, proprietor of Biswas Traders at Ailchara village in Kushtia.
Barrister Ragib Rouf Chowdhury, who appeared in the High Court hearing on behalf of petitioner Shafiqul Islam, said, "Following a writ petition, the High Court on August 2 stayed the process of handing over of the property for three months."
"However, violating the court order, the bank authorities with the help of the administration handed over possession of the property on August 5. Later, the original owner of the property filed a contempt of court petition with the High Court."
The lawyer said during the disbursement of the loan in 2017, the assessment of the property by the bank was Tk 60 crore, and a third party assessment fixed the amount recently at Tk 133 crore.

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