Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Tuesday called for the records signed by a Bangladesh Bank official in connection with the allegation of money laundering by Lakshmipur-2 lawmaker Mohammad Shahid Islam Papul’s wife Selina Islam, and their daughter Wafa Islam.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel passed the order after holding hearing on a case in this regard.
The court asked the Bangladesh Bank authorities to submit the records on or before January 24 this year also fixed January 24 for further hearing on the case.
During the hearing on two bail petitions filed by Selina Islam and Wafa Islam, their lawyers submitted a letter in the court issued by Md Arefin Ahsan Miah, Deputy Director of Bangladesh Bank.
The letter said ‘money laundering did not appear’ in cases of FDR and borrowing money by Selina Islam and Wafa Islam.
But on the next date of hearing, December 22 last year, the BB official informed the court that he did not state such opinion in his letter.
In that circumstance, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan appealed to the court for calling original records from the Bangladesh Bank’s concerned department.
After holding hearing on the issue the court on Tuesday called for the records.
Advocate Sayeed Ahmed Raza took part in the hearing on behalf of the petitioners, while advocate Khurshid Alam Khan appeared for the ACC and Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state.
The same High Court bench on December 22 last directed Selina Islam and her daughter Wafa Islam to surrender in a trial court by December 28 in a money laundering case. Complying with the court order they surrendered in the court and secured bail.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case on November 11 in 2020 with its Integrated Dhaka Office-1 against Papul, his wife, daughter and sister-in-law Jesmin Pradhan on allegation of money laundering.
ACC brought charges of laundering Tk 1.48 billion and transferring the money illegally against them.
Papul was arrested in Kuwait on 6 June in 2020 on charges of human trafficking and money laundering. He later admitted to being engaged in these activities, and also acknowledged involvement in illegal visa trading and bribery of Kuwaiti officials.
Meanwhile, on 17 June, the Anti-Corruption Commission imposed travel ban on Selina Islam, Wafa Islam and Jasmin Akhter.
Later on November 26 Papul’s wife, daughter and sister in law filed three separate bail petitions with the High Court.
According to the case statement, though 23-year-old Jesmin has no source of income of her own, the ACC has found illegal assets worth Tk 231 million. Hiding behind companies that existed on paper alone, Jesmin Pradhan’s five bank accounts were used to launder Tk 1.48 billion between 2012 and 2020. According to the ACC, Shahid Islam Papul used the bank accounts to transfer and launder illegal assets accumulated by his family.
The High Court on Tuesday called for the records signed by a Bangladesh Bank official in connection with the allegation of money laundering by Lakshmipur-2 lawmaker Mohammad Shahid Islam Papul’s wife Selina Islam, and their daughter Wafa Islam.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel passed the order after holding hearing on a case in this regard.
The court asked the Bangladesh Bank authorities to submit the records on or before January 24 this year also fixed January 24 for further hearing on the case.
During the hearing on two bail petitions filed by Selina Islam and Wafa Islam, their lawyers submitted a letter in the court issued by Md Arefin Ahsan Miah, Deputy Director of Bangladesh Bank.
The letter said ‘money laundering did not appear’ in cases of FDR and borrowing money by Selina Islam and Wafa Islam.
But on the next date of hearing, December 22 last year, the BB official informed the court that he did not state such opinion in his letter.
In that circumstance, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan appealed to the court for calling original records from the Bangladesh Bank’s concerned department.
After holding hearing on the issue the court on Tuesday called for the records.
Advocate Sayeed Ahmed Raza took part in the hearing on behalf of the petitioners, while advocate Khurshid Alam Khan appeared for the ACC and Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state.
The same High Court bench on December 22 last directed Selina Islam and her daughter Wafa Islam to surrender in a trial court by December 28 in a money laundering case. Complying with the court order they surrendered in the court and secured bail.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case on November 11 in 2020 with its Integrated Dhaka Office-1 against Papul, his wife, daughter and sister-in-law Jesmin Pradhan on allegation of money laundering.
ACC brought charges of laundering Tk 1.48 billion and transferring the money illegally against them.
Papul was arrested in Kuwait on 6 June in 2020 on charges of human trafficking and money laundering. He later admitted to being engaged in these activities, and also acknowledged involvement in illegal visa trading and bribery of Kuwaiti officials.
Meanwhile, on 17 June, the Anti-Corruption Commission imposed travel ban on Selina Islam, Wafa Islam and Jasmin Akhter.
Later on November 26 Papul’s wife, daughter and sister in law filed three separate bail petitions with the High Court.
According to the case statement, though 23-year-old Jesmin has no source of income of her own, the ACC has found illegal assets worth Tk 231 million. Hiding behind companies that existed on paper alone, Jesmin Pradhan’s five bank accounts were used to launder Tk 1.48 billion between 2012 and 2020. According to the ACC, Shahid Islam Papul used the bank accounts to transfer and launder illegal assets accumulated by his family.
