Police take steps to bar accused officials from fleeing country

The police department has taken special measures so that absconding accused in the case filed over embezzlement of Tk 1.76 billion from AB Bank cannot flee the country, said a report of the law enforcement agency.

Complying with a High Court order, the Police Headquarters has sent the report to the Attorney General office recently, stating that if any accused is arrested, he or she will be produced in the court immediately.

The report will be submitted to the High Court bench headed by Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder on the next hearing date of the case, said Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed the case against 17 people on charge of embezzling Tk 1.76 billion through fake work orders and illegal bank guarantees. ACC Deputy Assistant Director Abul Kalam Azad filed the case with ACC's District Integrated Office-1 in Dhaka on June 8 in 2021. Ershad Brothers Corporation's owner Md Earhsad Ali was made chief accused in the case.

The accused AB Bank officials are: Former EVP ABM Abdus Sattar, AVP and Relationship Manager Abdur Rahim, SVP and former Relationship Manager Anisur Rahman, VP Shahidul Islam, AVP Md Ruhul Amin, EVP and Head of CRM Wasika Afrozi.

The list also included the names of VP and CMR member Mufti Mostafizur Rahman, former SEVP and Head of CRM Salma Akter, AVP and CRM member Emarot Hossain Fakir, former Principal, SVP Officer Tawhidul Islam and CRM member Shamim A Morshed, VP and CRM member Khandaker Rashed Anwar, AVP and CRM member Sirajul Islam, former VP also credit committee member Mahfuzul Islam and former managing directors Mashiur Rahman Chowdhury and Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury.

Earlier on June 14 this year, the High Court sought explanation from Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman, Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Additional Inspector General of the Special Branch of Police over their role for not complying with a court order that asked to arrest absconding accused of the case.

During holding hearing on two bail petitions filed by two accused, including AB Bank's AVP and Relationship Manager Abdur Rahim, the High Court passed the order.

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