Natore court issues suo moto rule

The Natore Senior Judicial Magistrate's Court of Abu Sayeed has ordered a suo moto action to launch an inquiry into the reports published on print and electronic media regarding a breach of contract in the digging of holes beside the Natore-Bogra highway (N-502).

Advocate  Sirajul Islam, public prosecutor (PP) at the Natore Judge's Court, quoted the court as saying that after analysing two news items, it  became clear to the court that the contractor was digging holes beside the highway, causing long-term damage to government roads. The offense is punishable under Section 431 of the Penal Code.

Moreover, by violating terms of work order, the contractors have committed criminal breach of trust and fraud with the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and other government institutions including the government itself. The offence is punishable under Sections 406 and 420 of the Penal Code.

The court directed the special superintendent of police (SSP) of the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) in Natore to investigate into the case.

The court in its preliminary investigation identified the accused, took statements of witnesses, prepared draft map of the site, seized all the documents related to the project and obtained measurements of the total amount of soil (in cubic feet) removed from the side of the government road and an estimation of the extent of the damage.

In this light, the court ordered the investigation officer to conduct a detailed investigation in this regard and obtain statements from representatives concerned at the daily Prothom Alo and Ekattor Television.

The court also directed the executive engineer of RHD in Natore to provide all-out cooperation in the investigation.

A copy of the order has been sent to the deputy commissioner (DC) of Natore. The court set June 30 for filing of the investigation report with it.

Sharif Uddin, SSP of PBI in Natore, said, he already received the copy of the court order and assigned Inspector Soyeb Khan of PBI's Natore unit to investigate the case.

Natore RHD Executive Engineer Abdur Rahim also confirmed receiving a copy of the court order.