During a hearing on a contempt of court rule, a High Court bench on Wednesday observed that ordinary people cannot enter the offices of the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to place their problems.
After hearing a contempt of court rule issued against Kushtia’s Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saidul Islam and four others, the High Court bench of Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman and Justice AKM Rabiul Hassan came up with the observation on Monday.
The contempt of court rule was issued on a charge of inaction to prevent handing over of a property worth Tk 1.33 billion, which was sold at auction for Tk 150 million, in violation of a court order.
Issuing a stern warning to Kushtia’s Deputy Commissioner, the High Court bench asked him not to use heavy curtains on the doors and windows of his office rooms and to keep his office rooms always open for the people.
“Our experience says how luxurious life you are habituated to lead and how you exercise your powers. We are sorry to say ordinary people cannot enter the offices of the Deputy Commissioners and they cannot place their problems. Your offices are kept covered with heavy curtains and therefore, people even cannot see your appearance,” the bench also said addressing the DC.
“Let the common people see your appearance in the office room. So don't use heavy curtains on the windows and doors of your office room,” the court also said.
The HC bench, however, exonerated DC Saidul Islam from personal appearance before it in connection with the rule and fixed October 24 for further hearing on the rule.
The contempt of court rule was also issued against Kushtia’s Superintendent of Police, Managing Director of the BRAC Bank, Officer in Charge of Kushtia Sadar Police Station and buyer of the property Abdur Rashid.
They have also been asked to appear before the HC bench on October 24 during the hearing of the rule.
Earlier in the day, DC Saidul Islam appeared before the HC bench in compliance with its earlier directive.
On August 11 this year, the HC bench summoned Kushtia’s DC Saidul Islam and its Superintendent of Police Md Khairul Alam, BRAC Bank Limited’s Managing Director Selim RF Hussain and two others, directing them to appear before this court on August 21 to explain their position about handing over the possession of the property.
The HC court also issued a rule asking the five persons to explain as to why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them for handing over the possession of the property worth Tk 1.33 billion in violation of the court order.
The bench issued the summon order and rule following a contempt of court petition filed by Shafiqul Islam, proprietor of Biswas Traders at Ailchara village in Kushtia.
Barrister Ragib Rouf Chowdhury who appeared in the High Court hearing on behalf of petitioner Shafiqul Islam said, “Following a writ petition the High Court on August 2 stayed the process of handing over of the property for three months. However, violating the court order the Bank authorities with the help of the administration handed over its possession on August 5. Later the original owner of the property filed a contempt of court petition with the High Court.”
The lawyer said during the disbursement of the loan in 2017, the assessment of the property by the bank was Tk 600 million, and a third-party assessment fixed the amount recently at Tk 1.33 billion.
