DHAKA: In a major reversal of the post-1/11 actions of the emergency regime, the High Court Tuesday asked the government to return a hefty amount of Tk 297 crore seized from two big businesses amid a massive anti-graft drive.

An HC bench comprising Justice Mamnun Rahman and Justice Sayeda Afsar Jahan passed the order following a writ petition filed by the two companies four months ago.

The owners of the two firms—Catheli Dated Tea and Land Bangladesh Ltd and S Alam Steel Ltd--filed the two separate petitions with the High Court seeking refund of the money seized by a military-backed taskforce and attached to the exchequer.

The petitioners alleged “government took the money frightening us” during the emergency period.

Of the total money, Tk 237 crore was taken from the tea company alone and Tk 60 crore from S Alam steelmaker.

A total of Tk 1,200 crore was seized during the drive under the interim regime that came to office through the January 11, 2007 changeover and ended up with the takeover by the present government in January 2009 following the December elections.         

Advocate Baset Majumdar stood for the petitioners in the major case that involves the undoing of one of the stormy actions under the emergency, proclaimed following a grave political crisis over election issues.

BDST: 1545 Hrs, AUG 24, 2010