Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Tuesday 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 13 accused of a case filed over misappropriation of Tk 1.76 billion from the AB Bank.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo passed the order while hearing two bail petitions filed by two accused, including AB Bank’s AVP and Relationship Manager Abdur Rahim, of the case. asked to submit their explanation within June 26 this year and the court has also adjourned the hearing on the bail petitions till then.
Lawyer Toufiqul Islam appeared in the court on behalf of the accused, while Khurshid Alam Khan appeared for the ACC and Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state.
During one stage of the hearing the High Court said, “We directed the accused of the case to surrender last year. We also directed to arrest them if they don’t surrender. Tell us how much you have implemented this order.”
Then state lawyer AKM Amin Uddin Manik said, “A total of four accused are in jail in the case so far we know.” Then the court passed the order seeking explanation from the three organizations’ heads.
While hearing another bail petition filed by two other accused of the case, the High Court on December 7 in 2021 imposed a travel ban upon 15 officials of AB Bank Limited including its two former managing directors (MDs), Mashiur Rahman Chowdhury and Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury.
The court at the same time asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to arrest the 15 accused within seven days after receiving the court order.
Among the 17 accused of the case, two accused were in jail till then and sought bail through their lawyer.
Mr Khushid Alam Khan then said, “The court asked the ACC to arrest 15 accused of the case after receiving the court order. The head of immigration police, the ACC and the police chief have been instructed not to allow these 15 people to flee abroad.”
The ACC has 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 has been made chief accused in the case.
The accused AB Bank’s officials are- former EVP of the bank ABM Abdus Salam, 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 Officer Tawhidul Islam, SVP and CRM member Shamai A Morshed, VP and CRM member Khandaker Rashed Anwar, AVP and CRM member Sirajul Islam and former VP also credit committee member Mahfuzul Islam.
