Hearing against Sayeedi, 5 others for embezzlement deferred

Special Correspondent
The Special Judge Court-1 of Dhaka yesterday could not record the depositions of the witnesses against six accused including convicted war criminal Delwar Hossain Sayeedi in a case filed on the charge of embezzling money of Islamic Foundation (IF) Zakat fund. Judge Syeda Hosne Ara of the special judge court situated at Dhaka Alia Madrasa ground passed the order on Wednesday morning as the defence lawyer did submit the revision order of the High Court in the trial court. Earlier, the defence filed revision petition challenging charge framing against accused Delwar Hossain Sayeedi in the High Court Division. Later, the court fixed April 7 for submission of the High Court order. On January 11, the court had fixed February 17 to start recording the depositions of the witnesses.
The other accused in the case are: former IF Director Mohammad Lutful Haque, former Chairman of Masjid Council for Community Advancement Mawlana Abul Kalam Azad, Chief Editor of Bandhujon Parishad Mia Mohammad Eunus, former President of Islami Samaj Kalyan Kendro Tofazzal Hossain and Deputy Director of Masjid Council of IF Md Abdul Haque.
Of the six, Sayeedi is in the prison after he was convicted and sentenced to imprisonment till death in crimes against humanity case, Mawlana Abul Kalam Azad and Abdul Haque are yet to be arrested, while the other three are on bail. Sayeedi was produced in the court on Wednesday.
Former IF Director Aiyub Ali Chowdhury filed the case with the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station on May 24, 2010. Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Assistant Director Wajed Ali Gazi submitted charge-sheet of the case on April 30, 2012.
On August 19, 2011, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) filed another case against Delwar Hossain Sayeedee on the charge of tax evasion amounting to Tk 56,46,812. The court also framed charge in this case on September 15 of the following year.