Bangladesh politician in tax net after falling out with Hasina
By IANSThursday, October 15, 2009
DHAKA - A senior leader and lawmaker of the ruling Awami League (AL) is in trouble with the tax authorities after falling out with party chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
A Dhaka court Thursday issued an arrest warrant for former party general secretary Abdul Jalil in a case filed by National Board of Revenue (NBR) for dodging income tax to the tune of Tk 400,000 ($5,910).
A businessman and banker, Jalil recently alleged that the party’s sweeping victory in last December’s parliamentary poll was the result of an ‘understanding’ with the caretaker government that conducted the poll.
Hasina hit back saying Jalil should then resign his membership of parliament.
Jalil also courted trouble as party general secretary and chief spokesman during 2007-08 when Hasina was jailed on graft charges. He secured a reprieve from the authorities and was allowed to go to Singapore for medical treatment.
Although he won a parliamentary seat, he was sidelined during government formation in January.
The party leadership publicly criticised him for questioning the fairness of elections. One of the party leaders called Jalil “mentally imbalanced”.
His continued defiance led to his being stripped of the post of chairman, parliamentary standing committee of commerce ministry, Oct 6.
The filing of the case and issuance of the arrest warrant against Jalil was an outcome of his recent derogatory statements about the party and ninth parliamentary elections, AL leaders told the newspaper.
