Court asks Moeen to submit reply by Sept 13 in defamation suit

UNB, Dhaka

A Dhaka court on Sunday asked ex-Army Chief General (retd) Moeen U Ahmed to submit his reply by September 13 in the Tk 100 crore defamation suit filed by former BNP state minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku on July 12.
Third Joint District Judge SM Saiful Islam re-fixed the date of submitting the reply upon a petition filed by defendant's lawyer Humayun Kabir seeking time, saying that an ex-parte decision will be taken if the reply is not submitted by Sept. 13.
Former BNP state minister for power and energy Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku on July 12 filed the defamation case against ex-army chief Gen (retd) Moeen U Ahmed and claimed Tk 100 crore in damages. On his behalf, Barrister Moudud Ahmed lodged the case with the Third Joint District Judge's Court.
Following the defamation suit, Judge SM Saiful Islam ordered the ex-army chief to appear before the court and submit a written statement on August 16.
The complainant said he was hurt and defamed by some remarks Gen (retd) Moeen made in March 2007.
On a petition filed by Tuku the same day the court asked Moeen to explain within three weeks why his property should not be attached.
The complaint said that on March 27 in 2007, the then army chief said corrupt politicians had siphoned off at least Tk 20,000 crore from the energy sector during the four-party alliance rule.
General Moeen had made the remark at a tea party he hosted in honour of the freedom fighters at the National Parade Square.
The following day (March 28) different national dailies ran reports on the comments that, the complainant said, damaged his reputation in society and political fraternity.
In the complaint, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku cited the incumbent energy minister's observation in parliament that allocations for the sector during the four-party rule amounted to Tk 13,500 crore.
Moeen, who was appointed the army chief on July 15 in 2005, went into retirement on completion of his tenure of service on June 15 this year.
He left Dhaka for Singapore on June 29 and is yet to return.
Gen (retd) Moeen is considered a key architect of the political changeover of January 11, 2007.