Law makes exceptions for BNP lawmaker

Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu, MP, accused in an extortion case, has not been present in the court on 23 consecutive dates and a metropolitan magistrate's court has not issued an arrest warrant against him.

The same court had cancelled the bail of one Farid Ahmed of 53 DIT Extension Road, Naya Paltan at Motijheel in the city, who stands accused in a cheating case, and issued a warrant of arrest against him as well, as he did not turn up on a specific date.

Earlier, the court on February 25, 2002 served a show cause notice on his guarantors to explain why Pintu was not present in the court without submission of any documents before it.

The court also directed the guarantors twice to assure it of Pintu's appearance. But Pintu was not produced before the court. The court on September 29 this year ordered Pintu's counsel to produce him before it today.

Pintu was arrested on December 26, 2001 on charge of attempted snatching of auction documents of a bankrupt company's property on December 23 the same year. Later, he was given one month's detention under the Special Powers Act.

Advocate Jahangir Alam Khan filed the case alleging that Pintu and his accomplices tried to grab the bidding documents.

The Detective Branch (DB) of police arrested Pintu following a case filed against him with Motijheel Police Station.

Later, the court set Pintu free on bail on January 24 last year upon a bond of Tk 10,000 with two guarantors.

When reached, Masud Ahmed Talukder, Pintu's counsel, did not comment on the non-appearance of his client before the court on so many dates.