Verdict on Industrialist Ragib Ali’s case today

Sylhet: A Sylhet court on Thursday will deliver in verdict in case filed against industrialist Ragib Ali and his son Abdul Hye over grabbing endowment property of Tarapur Tea Estate.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Saifuzzaman Hero set the date after concluding the hearing on the law‐point arguments in the case on Wednesday.
The court recorded the testimony of 11 witnesses out of 14 in the case.
On 19 January, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court asked the authorities concerned to reclaim Tarapur Tea Estate. The SC also ordered reinvestigation into the cases although police submitted a final report disposing the case.
Earlier, on 14 December the court finished recording witnesses' testimonies on following counsels cross-examining them.
On 4 December, a Sylhet court framed charges against Ragib Ali in the cases.
The court also rejected the discharge petition of Ragib’s son Abdul Hye and Sebayet Pankaj Kumar Gupta.
Earlier on 24 November, Indian immigration police arrested Ragib Ali from Karimganj district of Assam for illegal stay and a court sent him to jail after he was handed over to Bangladesh authority.
Indian immigration police arrested him from Karimganj district of Assam for illegal stay on 24 November and a court sent him to jail while Abdu Hye was arrested from Jakiganj on 12 November.
On 10 August, a court here issued warrants for the arrest of six people, including Ragib Ali and three of his family members, in two cases filed over grabbing land of an endowment property.
The other accused are Pankaj Kumar Gupta, current caretaker of Tarapur Tea Estate, Ragib’s son Abdul Hye, his son-in-law Abdul Quadir and daughter Rozina Qaudir and Dewan Moshtaque Majid.
Ragib Ali and his family members fled to India hours after the arrest warrants were issued against them.
Police submitted the chargesheets in the two cases to Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrate Court on 10 July last.
On 25 August, 1999, the authorities concerned of the then parliamentary watchdog on land affairs found that Tarapur Tea Estate captured a vast area of an endowment property and set up several establishments on the land illegally.
Later, the subcommittee of the parliamentary watchdog recommended taking legal action against illegal occupants.
SM Abdul Hye, land commissioner of Sylhet Sadar, filed two cases against six people, including Ragib Ali, with Sylhet Kotwali Police Station on 27 September, 2005.
Following the SC order, Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrate court ordered the Police to Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to investigate the cases again.
On 10 July, PBI submitted report accusing Ragib Ali and his son Hye.