Sircar challenges in HC validity of JS probe body against him

UNB, Dhaka

Former speaker barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, now a BNP lawmaker, challenged in the High Court the locus standi of a parliamentary probe body to investigate corruption charges against him.
He has filed a writ petition with the High Court challenging the validity of the all-party parliamentary body to probe allegations of financial anomalies and waste of public money against him as speaker, its recommendations and follow-up activities.
A division bench comprising Justice Tariq ul Hakim and Justice Borhan Uddin on Sunday fixed August 25 for hearing of the writ petition, court sources said.
On March 19, speaker advocate Abdul Hamid constituted the all-party parliamentary body, first in the history of parliament in Bangladesh, to probe the allegations against his predecessor.
The parliamentary probe body, headed by Adv Fazle Rabbi Mia, finalized its report on July 5, recommending that Sircar's present parliament membership be scrapped on the graft charges.
Furthermore, the lawmakers' panel recommended recovering Tk 27.86 lakh the ex-speaker had taken as medical bill "in breach of the rules", cancelling the appointments of 3rd-and 4th-class employees he had given as he was the one responsible for the waste by appointing those staff members when the eighth parliament had already ceased to exist.
The all-party committee had its report based on the findings and recommendations of three subcommittees it formed to dig out the irregularities.
Senior advocate TH Khan along with BNP stalwart lawyers appeared to move their colleague's case.