FE REPORT
A Dhaka court on Wednesday placed Prof Abul Barkat, an economist and former chairman of state-owned Janata Bank, on a two-day remand in connection with a graft case filed on charge of embezzling Tk 2.97 billion through loan irregularities.
Judge of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Dhaka, Md Zakir Hossain, passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) seeking remand.
Earlier on the day, ACC officials produced him before the court and sought a three-day remand for him. Upon hearing ACC petition, the court granted two-day remand for him.
Before that, Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court in Dhaka, Md Jakir Hossain Galib, rejected his bail prayer in the case, said Mahmud Hossain Jahangir, ACC public prosecutor.
Earlier on July 11 this year, Prof Barkat was produced in a Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Dhaka which later sent him to jail in the case.
Detective Branch of Police arrested Abul Barkat on July 10 from his residence at Dhanmondi Road-3 and later handed him over to the ACC. ACC filed the case on February 20 this year alleging that during his tenure as chairman, Abul Barkat was involved in loan fraud involving AnonTex Group, a ready-made garments company, resulting in the embezzlement of Tk 2.97 billion from Janata Bank.
The case named 23 individuals as accused, including Abul Barkat, former Janata Bank director Jamal Uddin Ahmed, and former Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman.
The complaint filed by ACC Deputy Director Md Nazmul Hussain said the accused, in collusion with each other, embezzled Tk 2.97 billion after sanctioning it as a loan basis on false documents and overvaluing a land.
bikashju@gmail.com
