An Appellate Division Judge yesterday stayed a High Court order sentencing Just-retired Comptroller of Defence SAM Iqbal to one-month simple imprisonment for contempt of court, reports UNB.

Justice Abdur Rouf stayed the order for two weeks upon a petition moved by contemner's lawyer. Khandaker Mahbubud-din Ahmed.

The contempt bench of the High Court comprising Justice Mohammad Mozammel Huq and Justice Hasan Amin on Wednesday delivered the judgement awarding the former Managing Director of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation. SAM Iqbal, who recently retired as Comptroller of Defence (Finance), one-month simple imprisonment.

The High Court also directed the contemner to surrender before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate. Dhaka, who was subsequently ordered to send him (Iqbal) to Dhaka Central Jail to suffer the imprisonment.

The court order came on Wednesday following a contempt petition filed against Iqbal, a former Managing Director of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, by former Secretary of BSC Raquibuddin Ahmed.

The former MD of BSC was found guilty of the charge of disobeying a court order and sentenced him. He was also fined to pay Tk 1.000 or in default suffer simple imprisonment of 7 days more.

In his failure to appear before the CMM. the court directed the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner and Offi-cer-in-Charge of Ramna police station to arrest Iqbal and produce him before the CMM.

Raquibuddin filed the contempt petition alleging that the ex-MD of BSC along with another officer did not allow him to Join his post of BSC in spite of an order of the Appellate Division.

The court gave the directive to send a copy of the judgement to secretaries of the ministries of establishment, shipping, defence. CMM of Dhaka, DMP Commissioner and OC of Ramna police station for Information and necessary action.

Contempt petitioner Raquibuddin while in service In BSC was taken to Naval Headquarters on some allegations brought by the then DGFI and was confined there 22 days from 17 May 1982. At that time he was made OSD by the Ministry of Establishment.

Subsequently, NSI enquired about the allegation against Raquibuddin but found those "baseless and false", according to the prosecution.

The Chief Martial Law Administrator on August 31,1982 directed the BSC to reinstate him as secretary. But. on the same date, his service was terminated by the BSC.

Raquibuddin filed a case in a lower court and after a long legal battle, the Appellate Divi-

sion declared his termination ''illegal" and directed that he be reinstated to his previous post.

He submitted his joining report to BSC on March 31. 1994, but till filing of the contempt petition, he was not allowed to Join in his service.

Bringing all the facts, he filed a petition before the High Court for drawing up contempt against the former MD of BSC and AKM Golam Farooque the then GM (Admn) of BSC.

Barrister Mainul Hosein with Barrister Rokonuddin Mahmud appeared for the petitioner while Khandaker Mah-bubuddin Ahmed appeared for the contemner.

Later. Khandaker Ma-habubuddin Ahmed moved a leave petition to Justice Abdur Rouf, who stayed the High Court verdict for two weeks.