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Sneer for beer

'Death threat' on BoI chief for not getting brewery licence

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
A leading businessman has allegedly threatened to kill the executive chairman of the Board of Investment (BoI) for not issuing licence to Jamuna Brewery & Distillery Ltd. to produce beer in Bangladesh.
Sources said Nurul Islam Babul of Jamuna Group had issued the death threat to BoI Executive Chairman Mahmudur Rahman on Monday.
Rahman told The Daily Star that Babul met him on Monday and asked him why the BoI did not issue the licence. "I told him that the BoI had requested the home ministry several times to inform it (the BoI) whether it gave any permission to Jamuna Brewery to produce beer," Rahman added.
"But, so far the home ministry has not informed us about any such permission based on which we can issue the licence," Rahman continued.
The BoI executive chairman said Babul then threatened him that he would have to face "dire consequences" for blocking the file.
Rahman further alleged that on Tuesday, the day after the incident, a person introducing himself as one of the top criminals on the 'most wanted' list released by the government rang Rahman up and threatened to kill him. The man also asked Rahman to pay him a certain amount in toll.
Rahman later talked to the home minister and informed him about the incident. "The home minister offered me police protection but I refused."
The BoI executive chairman,
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however, said on Thursday the newspaper owned by Nurul Islam Babul carried a 'fabricated' news item against him and the Board of Investment as well.
"This is yellow journalism aimed to blackmail me. But I will not bow down to such pressure," the BoI executive chairman told The Daily Star.
The business community learned about the incident yesterday and top chamber and trade leaders talked to Rahman.
A number of businessmen expressed their anger at the incident and demanded punishment to the people responsible.
The home minister could not be reached for comments.
Talking to The Daily Star, Nurul Islam Babul said he did not threaten anyone but went to the office of the BoI executive chairman two to three days ago along with one of his company directors according to a prior appointment.
Babul said he had applied to the BoI for a license some seven months ago. "But the BoI neither approved nor rejected my application."
"So I went to him ( Rahman) with one of my directors. I simply asked him why my application was not dealt with."
"Instead of giving me a specific answer, Rahman asked me said why I do not complain to the higher authorities against him. I told him that I will complain only if I feel it necessary.
"And at that point Mahmudur Rahman asked me if I was threatening him and I left without saying anything," Babul said.