Petition for withdrawal of case after five years

 CHITTAGONG, Mar 27: A petition in a case against former city mayor and city Awami League president ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury has been submitted today after five years of the decision of withdrawal of the same on political consideration.
Special Public Prosecutor (PP) Mesbahuddin Ahmed submitted the prayer for withdrawal in the court of Chittagong Divisional Special Judge SM Ataur Rahman today (Thursday).
Proceedings of the case remained suspended since 2009 by the order of the High Court which barred the PP from submitting the petition. The High Court issued a stay order in the income tax dodging case against the AL leader.
Lawyer of Mohiuddin Chowdhury also filed a bail petition on his behalf  today in which the court granted temporary bail after hearing. Mr Chowdhury was present in the court.
Special PP Mesbahuddin said the case was filed in 2008 during the caretaker government for tax dodging. The immediate past Awami League government decided to withdraw the case stating that it was filed for harassment.
On March 20 last, the High Court lifted the stay and ordered hearing of the same today (Thursday).
In the year 2004-05 Mr Mohiuddin submitted his statement to the Income Tax Department worth Tk 11.329 million but the government found tax evasion of Tk 2.758 million there, following which the then Additional Commissioner of Taxes Ziaul Huq filed the case.
On July 15, 2008 Mr Mohiuddin was arrested and on August 14 the same year he was granted bail. On December 3, 2008 the High Court issued stay order in the case.