The High Court on Thursday asked holders of 20 plots in the Tejgaon Industrial Area in the capital to explain their role in leasing out the government land allotted between 2002 and 2006 allegedly without following the due process of law.
The bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Justice Jahangir Hossain passed the order after the housing and public works ministry had submitted a list of the 24 plots holders as asked by the court earlier.
Ministry documents say that the plots were handed over to lease-holders in keeping with the decision of the committee of industrial plot allotment.
Of the plots holders, 13 are industrialists and the remaining 11 are owners, publishers and managing directors of print and electronic media houses.
The eleven media men are Shafik Rehman, Dainik Amardesh managing director M Hasmat Ali, former BNP lawmaker and Daily Khabarpatra publisher M Hafiq Ibrahim, Channel One Entertainment Limited managing director Giasuddin Al Mamun, Shyamal Bangla Media Limited chairman Abdul Haq, Saptahik Robbar publisher Saju Hossain, Impress Telefilms Limited (Channel i) director, Daily Sakaler Khabar owner and publisher Begum Tahmina Shawkat, NTV managing director M Enayetur Rahman, Dainik Pathajatra owner and publisher KM Shahid Ullah and Dainik Purbabhas Media and Publication managing director AYM Kamal.
The 13 industrialists are Diaper Limited managing director Mohammad Lutfor Rahman, Rupali Sweaters Industries managing director M Atiqullah, Bangladesh Telecom Limited director M Shahzad Ali, Auto Flower Mills proprietor BU Chowdhury, former BNP lawmaker and Asha Poly and Packaging proprietor Nasir Uddin Ahmed, Shamtex Limited managing director M Shah Alam, Messrs Royal Filling Station managing director Mashfiqul Haq, Messrs M Zahid Traders and Saw Mills proprietor M Ruhul Amin Bhuiyan, Brothers Garment Limited chairman Aminul Islam, Green  Wage Industries Limited director Azam J Chowdhury, Pacific Chemical Limited managing director, Focus Fashion Limited director Nazma and Messers Umme Khan Fashion Limited chairman and managing director Umme Z Khan.
Three of the plot holders Jai Jai Din founding editor Shafik Rehman, Mashfiqul Haq, son of Messrs Royal Filling Station managing director and former BNP state minister Ziaul Haq and Focus Fashion Limited director and former BNP minister Kamrul Islam’s wife Nazma Islam were not summoned as they had appeared in court. The other, Giasuddin Al Mamun, is now in jail.
The plots of Diaper Limited was being used for a printing press and as a storehouse of Dainik Manabzamin and the Daily Independent, according to the the ministry  documents submitted to the court.
On May 22, the same bench issued a series of directives, including a direction to the housing secretary to supply the court with a copy of the list of the people who were allotted land in the Hatirjheel-Begunbari Tejgaon Industrial Area without publication of any advisement in any media and without following the due process and in breach of law for the protection of ecology and environment.
On May 9, the same bench issued a rule suo moto after assistant attorney general Yadiya Zaman had produced in court a report headlined ‘Road becomes plot’ published in the daily Kaler Kantha on February 27, 2010, another report headlined ‘Road project becomes industrial plot overnight’ published in the daily Samakal on March 27, 2010 and an essay published in the daily Samakal by Abu Sayeed Khan.
The court also stayed any construction work on the plot that has never been in the plan of the Hatirjheel-Begunbari Project.
The court summoned Quamrul and Ziaul Haque and their families who were named in the reports.
Later in the hearing on May 16, Rajuk lawyer KM Saifuddin said that many people, including Shafik Rehman, were given the plots.
The court then summoned Shafik to appear in court on May 22 and he was kept standing in the dock on the day.
On May 22, the court issued a series of directives saying that the matter would be taken up for hearing again on July 15 with Shafiq requiring to appear.