The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Sunday arrested Tasvirul Islam, one of the owners of the fire-ravaged FR Tower in the city's Banani area, in a case filed over forgery of its design.
An ACC team led by its deputy director Abu Bakar Siddique arrested Mr Islam, also the chairman and managing director of Quasem Drycells Ltd, from the city's Segunbagicha area around 3:30 pm.
He was accused in the case filed against 23 people for their alleged involvement in construction of top five floors of FR Tower illegally, said ACC public relations officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharjee.
On June 25, ACC filed two cases against the 23 people, including FR Tower owners and former chairmen of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), for their alleged involvement in expansion of the building illegally.
Tasvir, president of the building's management committee and Kurigram unit chief of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is the owner of 21st, 22nd and 23rd floors of FR Tower.
Other accused in the cases include landowner SMHI Faruque, land developer and Rupayan Housing Estate Ltd chairman Liakat Ali Khan Mukul, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR) member Muhammad Shawkat Ali, Public Works Department (PWD) sub-divisional engineer Syed Nazmul Huda and PWD executive engineer Shamsur Rahman.
After primary investigation, ACC found that the 23-storey FR Tower had no fire alarm system and central fire-fighting measures. Fire exit and stairs of the building were also found narrow.
Besides, the developers obtained permission from the authority for constructing a 15-storey building.
Earlier on July 30, the commission also arrested Rajuk's Assistant Director Shah Md Sadrul Alam in connection with the case.
FR Tower caught fire on March 27, killing 25 people and injuring 73 others.
© 2024 - All Rights with The Financial Express
