Pakistan Observer
26th August 1960
MUJIB’S CASE
2 More High Govt. Officials Examined
BY OUR COURT CORRESPONDENT
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, former Minister of Commerce, Labour and Industries stood his trial for the fourth day yesterday (Thursday) in the jampacked court of Mr. A. Maudud, District and Sessions Judge, Dacca who is also the ex-officio Special Judge in a case of criminal misconduct brought against him and his alleged abetor Mr. Abu Naser. Two more high Government officials were yesterday examined as prosecution witnesses. They were Mr. Ruhul Quddus, the then Director of Industries and Mr. A. Monaem, Assistant Director, Trade and Commerce.
Mr. Ruhul Quddus in course of his deposition stated that he received the tender application dated December 12, 1956 on January 2, 1957 and sent it to the Deputy Director, Industries on the same day for examination. But the witness could not receive any report.
On February 12, 1957, he sent a note to the Commerce, Labour and Industries Department. Before his note he examined the financial implication of the application in a general manner.
In reply to a question in his examination-in-chief the witness said that he did not recommend the cancellation of M/S. Hasan Ahmed’s agency. It was not his subject, added the witness.
In reply to another question of the prosecution counsel the witness disclosed that he purchased share of M/S Green and White worth Rs. 5,000. He also stated that he knew accused Kazi Abu Naser for about three to four years. But he did not know if he was a Director of M/S. Green and White.
COAL IMPORT
In his cross-examination, the witness stated that he could not say without seeing the files if M/S Coal Mining & Trading Company addressed any application to the Minister, Commerce, Labour and Industries in regard to establishing a soft coke manufacturing plant at Darsana.
The witness also said that he remembered that certain allocation of foreign exchange was made in the beginning of 1957 for establishment of industries in East Pakistan and a list was drawn up in his office in May, 1957 to set up new industries with the support of the foreign exchange. In this respect he invited applications from parties who needed foreign exchange for the import of machineries. The witness left the Secretariat in January 1958, the witness said. In reply to a question the witness stated that it was not within his knowledge if any one else than MIS Coal Mining and Trading Company submitted any scheme for manufacturing soft coke from steam coal, “I recommended their scheme on an experimental basis as it was a special scheme brought by a party.”
In reply to a question of Mr. A. Salam Khan, Counsel of Mr. Abu Naser, the witness disclosed that some time he used to hold meetings in the Directorate in which expansion of existing industries and setting up of new industries were discussed with the industrialists and intending industrialists. In those meetings, the witness as Director of Industries assured them all necessary help.
In reply to a question put by the Court, the witness stated that he purchased the shares of M/S Green and White in the year 1952.
After Mr. Ruhul Quddus concluded his deposition Nawab Zada Hussan Ali chowdhury proved some more documents.
CROSS EXAMINATION
In cross examination Nawab Zada admitted that he went to the house of the Public Prosecutor last night and had some talk with him in respect of this case.
The next and last prosecution witness for the day was Mr. A. Monaem, Assistant Director, Trade and Commerce Government of East Pakistan. The witness used to deal with coal and other things.
In his deposition the witness stated that Agency of M/S Hasan Ahmed was cancelled on April 7, 1957 by an order of the Minister. After this cancellation, M/S Coal Mining and Trading Company was appointed agent by the Minister by the same order and no tender was called for this agency. The witness said that there were complaints against both M/S Hasan Ahmed and M/S Coal Mining and Trading Company.
In course of cross-examination the witness said that he was not examined by the Investigating Officer. He handed over some files to him.
The witness also said that the agency of M/S Coal Mining and Trading Company was terminated by three-month notice dated December 4, 1958. But in respect of other agents the Government could have terminated it any time (without notice).
COAL COMMISSIONER
The witness remembered that before the expiry of the said agency of M/S Coal Mining and Trading Company, the Coal Commissioner of the Government of Pakistan informed the Provincial Government that the former was coming down to Dacca personally and would consult the Provincial Government and requested the latter to hold up the selection of new agent. He came here soon after.
The witness also stated that he wrote a letter to Mr. Abu Naser to attend a conference before the Coal Commissioner on March 4, 1959. The Coal Commissioner, Regional Coal Commissioner, Director General, Trade, Commerce and Industries and the witness attended the conference. The proceedings of the meeting were forwarded to M/S Coal Mining and Trading Company.
In the meeting the proposal of Mr. A. Naser for manufacturing soft coke from Indian steam coal was accepted and the firm was allotted one hundred tons of steam coal to manufacture soft coke. Thereafter their agency was extended up to September, 1959.
In the meeting Mr. Abu Naser said that everything was ready since July, 1958 and he could manufacture soft coke if steam coal was supplied to his firm.
The witness further stated that the inferior quality of coke bought from M/S Damagoria Colliery which was dumped at Iswardi was sold at Rs. 67-12 per ton which was the Government rate.
Before the witness could conclude his cross-examination the Court rose for the day.
Further hearing of the case will resume today.
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