Staff Reporter: The traditional Jalalabad Association of USA has lost its tradition of four decades and is playing committee-committee game. The Mainul Bhaban named as so-called Jalalabad in New York is foreclosure by a vested interest group. The so-called Jalalabad Bhaban is still in foreclosure (foreclosure is a process that begins when a borrower defaults on their mortgage), US Attorney Joseph Matten said at a hearing held at Nabanno Party Hall in Jackson Heights yesterday.
Attorney Joseph Matten pointed out that the former general secretary Moinul Islam illegally took 350,000 dollars from the fund of the organization and bought a house in his own name in secret and named it Jalalabad Bhaban. He bought the house in Astoria named after the institution he had built and later named the house ‘Jalalabad Bhaban’. But Minul Islam is not paying the mortgage of this building for the last 1 year. Because of which Washington Equity Bank put the house in foreclosure. Moinul spent the money of Jalalabad Association while purchasing the house. My client’s (Association) money is associated with this house. Jalalabad Association’s name as lien on the house. In such a situation, if the house is taken over completely by the bank, Jalalabad Association will suffer financially. Leaders of Jalalabad Association and expatriate Bangladeshi journalists were present.
Acting General Secretary of Jalalabad Association Rokon Hakim said that Moinul is collecting the rent of the house bought with the money of the organization. According to his (Moinul) calculation, even after paying the mortgage, he has 800 dollars in hand every month. In this situation, Moinul has been embezzling all the money without paying the mortgage of the house for the last 1 year.
The house is still in foreclosure, said attorney Joseph Matten, presenting evidence at the hearing. Moinul withdrew 2 rounds of money from the bank without taking the approval of the committee. In the first round, he transferred two and a half million dollars to Abdul Aziz’s account. Later, however, it returned to the fund. Later, he withdrew 350,000 dollars to buy a house in the name of his organization. Interestingly, the brokerage fee shown to buy this home is $87,000. But Moinul is also the owner of this brokerage company. Members of Jalalabad Association are hoping that the learned court will review the case filed against all his misdeeds and irregularities and give a proper verdict subject to investigation.
President Badrul Hossain Khan presided over the meeting. Directed by Rokon Hakim. Among others present were Kamruzzaman Qais, Badrun Nahar Khan Mita, Ataur Rahman Salim, Mizbah Majid, Mizbah Ahmed, Rezaul Alam Apu, Javed Ahmed, Shamim Ahmed, Advocate Nasir Uddin, Mojahidul Islam, Kinu Chowdhury and Rizu Mohammed.
BP/SM
