A Dhaka court on Tuesday issued arrest warrants against 25 people, including former Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Atiur Rahman, in a corruption case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Metropolitan Sessions Judge and Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Foyez passed the order after taking cognisance of the charge sheet and set March 4 for submission of a report on the execution of the warrants.
ACC Public Prosecutor Mohammad Tariqul Islam told the court that the commission had filed a charge sheet against 26 accused, including economist Dr Abul Barkat, over allegations of embezzling around Tk 531 crore from Janata Bank in the name of the Annontex Group. The court ordered arrest warrants for 25 of them.
Other accused include former Bangladesh Bank deputy governor Abu Hena Mohammad Razi Hasan, former Janata Bank managing director and CEO Abdus Salam Azad, former director Jamal Uddin Ahmed, senior officials of the bank and Mohammad Yunus Badal, chairman of the Annontex Group, along with top executives of its affiliated companies.
During the hearing, Dr Abul Barkat, who is currently in jail, was produced before the court. His bail petition was rejected, and he was sent back to prison.
According to the charge sheet, the accused allegedly colluded to forge documents and syphon off Tk 531 crore 44 lakh from Janata Bank. Including interest, the amount stands at approximately Tk 1130 crore. The original FIR cited embezzlement of over Tk 297 crore.
The case was filed on February 22 last year by ACC Deputy Director Md Nazmul Hossain and the charge sheet was submitted to the court on October 20 following completion of the investigation.
MAL/NSA
