Khaleda sues govt, cantonment board
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has filed a contempt of court case against the government and cantonment board over alleged eviction from her cantonment residence on Nov 13, reports bdnews24.com.
The case was filed with the Appellate Division on Tuesday, her lawyer Mahbub Uddin Khokan said.
Khaleda also filed a petition for an injunction on removal of structures and furniture from the premises of the house at Shaheed Mainul Road in Dhaka cantonment, and asked for handing over of the residence to her possession in the same condition it was taken.
Khokan told journalists: "Chamber judge S K Sinha set the hearing date of the two petitions on Nov 29."
Earlier, the hearing of the leave to appeal, filed by the opposition leader challenging a previous High Court verdict allowing her eviction from the cantonment house, was also set for the day.
Additional attorney general M K Rahman told journalists that the hearings will be held at a regular bench of the Appellate Division.
During the initial hearing, Khaleda's lawyer Moudud Ahmed said, "Hearing of the leave to appeal on this matter is going on. Hence, the steps the government have taken in the meantime are synonymous to contempt of court."
Eight government and military officials have been accused of carrying out the eviction. They are defence secretary Khandaker Assaduzzaman, cabinet secretary Abdul Aziz, home secretary Sobhan Shikder, military lands and cantonments directorate director Mortuza Ahmed, deputy director Shafiqul Ahmed, military estate officer S M Imdadul Haque, cantonment board chief Tanbir Hasan Majumder, and military public relations department (ISPR) chief Shahinul Islam.
Khaleda in her petition pointed out that steps taken on matter under consideration of the court was punishable. She urged the Supreme Court to take actions against the eight accused.
She also stated that she was harassed during the eviction on Nov 13.
The BNP chief made the same allegation on the day of the eviction which the ISPR denied, claiming that the opposition chief left the house on her own volition. Instead the army made allegation of misbehaviour on the opposition chief's part.
The High Court in its ruling on Oct 13, termed 'highly illegal' and 'contrary to public interest' for a military chief to give away a cantonment house to Khaleda Zia with the president's approval. The court observed that the plot of land belonged to the government and the armed forces did not have any authority to give it away. "Not even the president can give away public property. The president is not above the law either," the court pointed out.
The case was filed with the Appellate Division on Tuesday, her lawyer Mahbub Uddin Khokan said.
Khaleda also filed a petition for an injunction on removal of structures and furniture from the premises of the house at Shaheed Mainul Road in Dhaka cantonment, and asked for handing over of the residence to her possession in the same condition it was taken.
Khokan told journalists: "Chamber judge S K Sinha set the hearing date of the two petitions on Nov 29."
Earlier, the hearing of the leave to appeal, filed by the opposition leader challenging a previous High Court verdict allowing her eviction from the cantonment house, was also set for the day.
Additional attorney general M K Rahman told journalists that the hearings will be held at a regular bench of the Appellate Division.
During the initial hearing, Khaleda's lawyer Moudud Ahmed said, "Hearing of the leave to appeal on this matter is going on. Hence, the steps the government have taken in the meantime are synonymous to contempt of court."
Eight government and military officials have been accused of carrying out the eviction. They are defence secretary Khandaker Assaduzzaman, cabinet secretary Abdul Aziz, home secretary Sobhan Shikder, military lands and cantonments directorate director Mortuza Ahmed, deputy director Shafiqul Ahmed, military estate officer S M Imdadul Haque, cantonment board chief Tanbir Hasan Majumder, and military public relations department (ISPR) chief Shahinul Islam.
Khaleda in her petition pointed out that steps taken on matter under consideration of the court was punishable. She urged the Supreme Court to take actions against the eight accused.
She also stated that she was harassed during the eviction on Nov 13.
The BNP chief made the same allegation on the day of the eviction which the ISPR denied, claiming that the opposition chief left the house on her own volition. Instead the army made allegation of misbehaviour on the opposition chief's part.
The High Court in its ruling on Oct 13, termed 'highly illegal' and 'contrary to public interest' for a military chief to give away a cantonment house to Khaleda Zia with the president's approval. The court observed that the plot of land belonged to the government and the armed forces did not have any authority to give it away. "Not even the president can give away public property. The president is not above the law either," the court pointed out.