Cases against Hasanat sent to home ministry for withdrawal

8 May 2009, 18:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Barisal district administration has forwarded to the home ministry former chief whip Abul Hasanat Abdullah's application for withdrawal of all the six cases lodged by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The six cases against Hasanat, who is also cousin of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, were politically motivated, the applicant said. Hasanat, who was convicted in absentia in four of the six cases lodged by the ACC, recently took initiative to file appeal against his conviction in the four cases. However, following the High Court's recent directive for the convicted accused to surrender before the trial court to file appeal in higher court, Hasanat submitted his application before the district administration for withdrawal of the six 'politically motivated' cases. Mashiur Rahman, deputy commissioner and district magistrate, on Thursday presided over the first meeting of Barisal district administration and magistracy for scrutiny of the applications filed for withdrawal of the six cases. Abdullahel Baki, additional deputy magistrate, Kazi Mortaz Ahmed, deputy commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police, Mahbubur Rahman, district police superintendent, and advocate Giasuddin Kabul, district public prosecutor, attended the meeting at the office of Barisal deputy commissioner. After reviewing Hasanat's application filed on April 13 this year and report of the public prosecutor submitted on Tuesday, the meeting unanimously decided that the six cases against Hasanat were politically motivated and so those were to be forwarded to the home ministry with recommendation for withdrawal.