Mahmudur Rahman sues five CPD trustees; arrest warrant issued, 3rd Ld

A Dhaka court Wednesday issued arrest warrants against five Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) trustees, including its chairman Prof Rehman Sobhan and executive director Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, following a defamation case filed by energy advisor Mahmudur Rahman. 3rd Ld

bdnews24.com
Published : 8 August 2006, 12:00 PM
Updated : 8 August 2006, 12:00 PM
Adv: Adding with new information
Dhaka, Aug 9 (BDNEWS) - A Dhaka court Wednesday issued arrest warrants against five Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) trustees, including its chairman Prof Rehman Sobhan and executive director Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, following a defamation case filed by energy advisor Mahmudur Rahman.
Other trustees against whom the arrest warrants were issued are: M Sayeduzzaman, Syed Manjur Elahi and Laila Kabir.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Syed Mohammad Mujibul Haque issued the order and fixed September 14 for hearing of the case.
Court sources said the accused CPD officials could not appeal for bail Wednesday due to time constraint. Eminent jurist Dr Kamal Hossain, Barrister Rokon Uddin Mahmud and some other senior lawyers may move bail prayers for them in the High Court Thursday, the sources added.
Mahmudur Rahman, who is also the Executive Chairman of the Board of Investment, Wednesday filed the case, for what he termed, branding him a collaborator of the Pakistani occupation forces.
Rahman in his submission said the accused persons made some discourteous, indecent and false remarks about him at a press conference Tuesday. The remarks were published in some newspapers Wednesday.
He strongly denied the allegations.
When contacted, Dr Debapriya said they heard of the case but did not get any copy of the court order. "We will take necessary steps after receiving the paper of the case", he said.
Replying to a question whether they would file a counter case, Dr Debapriya said "We work with professional attitude and did not think of filing any counter case."
Defending their remarks about the energy advisor, he said they have record of their speeches and journalists from print and electronic media were also present at the press conference.
BDNEWS/1937 hrs