Defamation Case Against Moeen

Hearing on Tuku's petition adjourned

14 June 2010, 18:00 PM

Court Correspondent

A Dhaka court yesterday for the third time adjourned till July 8 the hearing on a petition seeking attachment of properties of former army chief General (Retd) Moeen U Ahmed in a Tk 100 crore defamation case. Former state minister for energy Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku filed the petition. Judge SM Saiful Islam of the Third Joint District Judge's Court passed the order following a time petition submitted by Moeen's lawyers seeking adjournment of the hearing. In the petition, one of the lawyers for Moeen said senior advocate Kamrul Islam Siddique who would move the petition, could not appear before it yesterday due to his illness. So, they prayed for adjournment of the hearing. On the other hand, lawyers for Tuku were ready for hearing on the petition. After the hearing, the judge gave the defence counsels last chance to move the petition on the scheduled date. Earlier on January 10, the trial court rejected General Moeen's petition seeking dismissal of Tuku's Tk 100 crore defamation case. Tuku filed the defamation suit on July 12 last year accusing the former army chief of making derogatory remarks that damaged his reputation. After the hearing, the court issued a notice asking Moeen to explain within three weeks why his properties would not be attached. On March 27, 2007 General Moeen at a tea party in honour of the freedom fighters at National Parade Square said corrupt politicians had siphoned off at least Tk 20,000 crore from the energy sector during the four-party rule, reads the complaint.