Arrest warrant issued against Awami League leader in B`desh

Dhaka: A Bangladeshi court on Monday issued an arrest warrant against an influential ruling Awami League party leader for failing to surrender in a graft case.

The warrant was issued by the court in southeastern Chittagong against ABM Mahiuddin Chowdhury who was the former mayor of the port city. Court officials said Divisional Special Judge Ataur Rahman issued the warrant as Chowdhury failed to surrender before the court in line with a November 2013 High Court order to face the charge brought by the Anti-Corruption Commission against him. Under a massive anti-graft campaign under the 2007-2008 military-backed interim government, Chowdhury was arrested and put on trial which was halted under a High Court order in 2009. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) sued him for concealing information of his wealth amounting to about Taka 2.37 crore and for amassing wealth of about Taka 1.45 crore beyond his known sources. In November last year the High Court lifted the stay order and asked him to appear before the trial court. "The judge issued the arrest warrant as he did not turn up despite the High Court order," ACC counsel Mahmudul Haq Mahmud said. Chowdhury, who is the president of Awami League`s Chittagong unit, was elected as mayor of the port city for three consecutive terms until he lost in 2010.