Zahangir now faces comtempt of court rule

The High Court yesterday issued a contempt of court rule against Gazipur City Corporation Mayor Mohammad Zahangir Alam and three others on charges of grabbing land ignoring its directives.

In the rule, the court asked them to explain within a week why the contempt of court proceedings should not be brought against them for violating its orders.

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On Friday, Zahangir, the general secretary of Gazipur city Awami League, was expelled from the party for his controversial comments on Bangabandhu and Liberation War martyrs. His party primary membership was also cancelled.

The bench of Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman yesterday issued the rule after a contempt of court petition was filed by Ashraf Uddin Ahmed, a resident of the capital's Gulshan area.

Other three people, against whom the contempt of court rule was issued, are Alfaz from Painshal village under Joydebpur Police Station in Gazipur, Harunur Rashid alias Thandu of Paschim Dogori village and Fazlul Huq of BK Bari village under the same police station.

Following a writ petition filed by Ashraf, the HC on October 8, 2018 asked the respondents, including Zahangir, to refrain from entering the land of the petitioner in BK Bari Mouza under Joydevpur Police Station or doing mutation of the land in the name of others or anyway and not to disturb the peaceful possession of the petitioner for three months.

Later, the HC directive was extended. On June 21 this year, the court asked the respondents not to disturb the peaceful possession of the petitioner.

Despite the HC orders, the respondents, including Zahangir, prevented Ashraf from entering the land. Being helpless, Ashraf filed a case with Joydebpur Police Station on August 18 this year.

Even then, Zahangir and three other accused were threatening Ashraf, petitioner's counsel Abul Kalam Azad told The Daily Star.

Amid such a situation, Ashraf filed the contempt of court petition with the HC against the four three weeks ago, the lawyer added.