Dhaka, April 28 – The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday paved the way for the Anti-Corruption Commission to run the investigation against former Jatiya Party general secretary ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader relating to the allegation that he had misappropriated around Tk 1 billion worth of government assets.
The four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain yesterday suspended a High Court stay on the effectivity of a notice issued by the ACC summoning Ruhul Amin Howlader for quizzing over the matter.
After the apex court order, ACC lawyer Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan told reporters that the anti-graft body is now free to continue its probe against Howlader for amassing illegal wealth.
Earlier, on April 3, the HC stayed for four weeks the effectivity of a notice issued by the Anti-Corruption Commission summoning Jatiya Party former secretary general Ruhul Amin Howlader for quizzing.
The ACC filed an appeal with the Supreme Court against the HC order. After hearing on the ACC appeal, the apex court yesterday suspended the HC paving the way for the commission to continue the probe against Howlader.
The ACC summoned Ruhul Amin Howlader on Sept 13 last year to investigate allegations that he had misappropriated around Tk 1 billion worth of government assets.
He did not appear before the commission and sought an exemption citing his involvement in the national elections.
ACC Deputy Director Syed Ahmad issued another notice asking Howlader to appear at the anti-graft body’s office at 9:30 am on March 28.
The court subsequently stayed the notice for four weeks following the initial hearing of a petition filed by Howlader challenging the legality of the notice. – Staff Reporter
