Temple's Land

HC asks probe body to submit report by Oct 12

Jalil exempted from personal appearance

16 August 2011, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

The High Court yesterday formed a two-member investigation committee asking it to submit its report by October 12 on the alleged occupation of a temple's land at Dubol Hati Rajbari in Naogaon. Members of the committee are deputy commissioner (DC) of Naogaon and director general (DG) of archeological department. The committee has also been asked to find out real owner of the land and recommend how to protect the temple. The court also directed all 15 members of Mercantile Bank Foundation to appear before it on October 12 during the hearing on the rule. The foundation is allegedly constructing a charitable hospital on the temple's land. Thirteen members of the foundation yesterday appeared before the bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagor, as per its August 11 order. Two other members could not appear before the bench as they are now out of the country. The bench on August 11 directed Abdul Jalil, chairman of the foundation, and its all 15 members to appear before it yesterday to explain their roles over alleged occupation of the temple. The HC, however, exempted Jalil, former general secretary of ruling Awami League, on August 14 from personal appearance before it considering his illness. Abdul Matin Khasrhu, counsel for foundation, yesterday told the HC that there was no temple where his client has been constructing a charitable hospital. There is no question of occupying the land of temple by Mercantile Bank Foundation, he said. A Bangla daily on July 27 published a report with a headline “Allegation of constructing a hospital destructing temple. The HC bench the same day issued the rule asking the government to explain why stern action should not be taken against the persons responsible for the alleged destruction of the temple.