ACC to seek stay on production of Jaha Alam movie

Dhaka, March 18 – The Anti-Corruption Commission or ACC is going to file a petition with the High Court today (Tuesday) seeking a stay order on making of a film based on the story of the wrongly imprisoned Jaha Alam.
ACC lawyer Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan yesterday told reporters at the Supreme Court premises that the commission would file a petition with the High Court on Tuesday seeking a restriction on making of a film based on the story of Jaha Alam incarceration.
He also said that recently they have seen the news of a film based on Jaha Alam experience, but the fact is the case is still under trial.
As per the law, no-one is allowed to make a film on any sub-judice matter. That’s why we are going to file a petition with the High Court seeking restrictions on this film, Khan added.
The ACC in 2014 prosecuted one Abu Saleque in 26 cases on charges related to loan fraud involving Tk 185 million from Sonali Bank.
The officials of the bank, however, identified Jaha Alam as Saleque and the jute mill worker was arrested in 2016.
Later, the HC issued a suo moto order to free Jaha Alam following a report published in a national daily and aired on a television in February.
Jaha Alam was freed from Gazipur’s Kashimpur jail after serving three years in prison over the false cases.
Filmmaker Maria Tushar had told the media she wanted to make a film based on a story from Jaha Alam’s life.
Tushar had registered to direct the film at the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation or BFDC. Jaha Alam said he has not heard about the film himself.
The ACC had submitted an affidavit on March 5 over the Jaha Alam incident.
On March 6, the HC observed that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has to take the responsibility for Jaha Alam’s ordeal as the commission could not take any step to secure his bail even after getting proof of his innocence in the case concerned.
After expressing dissatisfactions over the ACC’s role in the case, the HC bench also directed the commission to submit the 18 bank documents and 33 case documents relating to the Tk. 18 crore scam of Sonali bank.
The HC bench of Justice FRM Nazmul Ahasan and Justice KM Kamrul Kader came up with the observations and directive during a hearing on the case.
The HC also asked the graft watchdog to appear before High Court with all relevant documents by April 10. – Staff Reporter