Govt hands over Tk 100cr-cheque to Moon Cinema Hall owner
The government today handed over a cheque of Tk 100 crore to the owner of Moon Cinema Hall as per the Appellate Division order.
Today, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam gave the cheque to Maksudul Alam, currently managing director of Bangladesh Italian Marble Works Ltd, through the Appellate Division.
Moon Cinema Hall, which was located on Waiz Ghat Road in Dhaka, was handed over to Freedom Fighters’ Welfare Trust (FFWT) during the Martial Law regime of 1975-79.
A four-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, however, directed Maksudul Alam to register the land of Moon Cinema Hall to FFWT immediately.
The top court passed the order during hearing a contempt of court petition filed by Maksudul Alam.
The Court fixed January 5 for passing further order over the issue.
During the proceedings, the SC asked Maksudul Alam to place his family status.
In reply, Maksudul said he lives in Banani of Dhaka and he has three children who are now in abroad.
He also said that he will invest the money for a welfare purpose.
On October 8, the Supreme Court directed FFWT to pay Tk 100 crore to the owner of Moon Cinema Hall by December 9, 2018.
Delivering a verdict on the case against the constitution's fifth amendment, the SC on May 11, 2011 had directed Freedom Fighters' Welfare Fund to return properties of Moon Cinema in three months.
As the order went unheeded, Maksudul filed a contempt of court petition with the SC in January 2013 against the government authorities concerned and FFWT.
The SC in January 2017 directed eminent civil engineer Prof Jamilur Reza Choudhury to assess the cost of properties of Moon Cinema Hall, which has already been turned into a development structure.
Jamilur Reza Chowdhury submitted a report to the SC assessing the cost of the property at around Tk 100 crore.
During hearing on the contempt of court petition, the SC on January 17 this year directed the FFWT to compensate around Tk 100 crore to the owner of the then Moon Cinema Hall in three instalments by July 30.
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