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Nizami in jail: Chiefs of 3 key parties now behind the bar

Jamaat Ameer Maulana Motiur Rahman Nizami being

taken to Dhaka Central Jail after he was produced before

court on Monday. Banglar Chokh 

Jamaat-e-Islami and Chhatra Shibir activists

intercepting the police vehicles while the law enforcers

carrying the Jamaat chief Maulana Motiur Rahman Nizami after

arresting him from his Maghbazar residence on Sunday night.

Focus BanglaStaff Reporter  

Former Minister and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Matiur Rahman Nizami, who was arrested for his alleged involvement in GATCO corruption case was sent to jail after he was produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court yesterday morning.

The court simultaneously ordered jail authorities to provide Nizami division in jail and make necessary arrangements for his medical treatment.

Lawyers said when Nizami was produced before the court of magistrate Md Waliul Islam, the Jamaat leader told the court, "If one has to go to jail for being the member of the government's purchase committee, none in future will want to be its member. A government cannot run in this way."

The Jamaat-e-Islami chief was produced in the courtroom of magistrate Md Waliul Islam at 9:47am. An hour later, a prison van carrying Nizami left the court for Dhaka Central Jail.

When Nizami was taken to the court-room, he sat on a bench on the first row. Senior police officers requested his lawyers to take the accused to the dock saying: "Mr Nizami is an arrestee; he is not here to surrender."

Nizami's lawyers protested it, saying Awami League president Sheikh Hasina was also allowed to sit in the lawyers' corner when she was brought into the courtroom after her arrest and the law should be equally applicable to all.

As the courtroom dock looked like a cell encaged within an iron frame, the lawyers insisted on keeping the accused seated on the bench.

Large numbers of police were deployed in and around the CMM court as Nizami was produced in the court, while senior Jamaat-e-Islami leaders and supporters including Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojahid, Makbul Ahmed, Abdul Kader Molla and Delwar Hossain Saidi- crowded the area.

Moshiul Alam, lawyer for Nizami, said the court that Nizami was not included in the original chargesheet in the case.

Nizami's lawyer said his client was arrested illegally while his bail appeal remained pending with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.

He served for two ministries with honesty, the lawyer added.

"Nizami is the model of honesty in Bangladesh. Those who do not want well-being of Bangladesh have implicated him in the charge sheet," said Alam.

Alam told the magistrate: "As the case is filed under the Emergency Powers Rules, there is no scope of granting bail. But we appeal for his bail as the charges are false- for that reason you should allow bail for my client."

The lawyer requested the court to allow Nizami to make a statement. At that time, the judge ordered the accused not to deliver any statement other than pertaining to the case.

"As the judiciary is independent now, I expect justice in this false case.

I have been produced on charges of corruption that are very unfair to me," said Nizami.

"I served in the agriculture and industry ministries during the previous government's tenure. Nobody will find any corruption there even with if they search with a microscope," he said.

"I was only a member of the Government's Purchase Committee and just put my signatures when anything was approved at the meeting. This is a politically motivated case. I was not involved in the GATCO deal," the Jamaat leader claimed.

"I was shown fugitive in the charge sheet. That is a false accusation. I had been staying in my house and attending various meetings. Why did they show me as a fugitive," he asked.

Earlier, police arrested Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami at his Maghbazar residence late at night on Sunday amid protests by several hundreds of his party leaders and activists.

Nizami was then taken to the Cantonment Police Station in a police van.

It was the first time in his political career spanning over four decades that Jamaat Ameer and former minister Matiur Rahman Nizami was arrested.

On May 15, the court issued warrants of arrest against Nizami and 11 other "absconding" accused in the GATCO graft case.

Jamaat has already announced a four-day programme of 'Nafal Roja'

(voluntary fasting) and feeding of the poor across the country in protest against the arrest of Nizami.

Fasting on May 22-23 and feeding the orphans and destitute on May 24-25 are aimed at seeking divine blessings to protect the nation from the clutches of 'conspiracy and repression'.

Jamaat's Assistant Secretary General Kader Molla said the party would announce further programmes in this regard today.

Meanwhile, the party's senior Nayeb-e-Ameer Moulana Mohammad Yusuf will perform as the acting Ameer in absence of Nizami.