Anis Alamgir granted permanent bail in graft case
Of the two cases against him, the High Court granted bail to Alamgir in an Anti-Terrorism Act case on 5 March.
A Dhaka court has granted permanent bail to Anis Alamgir in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission over allegations of illicit wealth accumulation and money laundering.
The order was passed by Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Sabbir Faiz following a hearing today (14 May).
The court, however, rejected a separate petition seeking exemption from personal appearance and directed him to appear physically before the court.
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Defence lawyer Taslima Jahan Popy confirmed the matter, saying the court granted permanent bail and also approved a petition allowing him to travel abroad without restrictions.
Earlier in the day, Anis Alamgir appeared before the court and filed three separate petitions seeking permanent bail, exemption from personal appearance and permission to travel abroad at any time.
After the hearing, the court rejected the plea for exemption from personal appearance but allowed the other two petitions.
Anis Alamgir has worked with several media outlets, including the daily Ajker Kagoj.
On 14 December last year, members of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police Detective Branch (DB) took Alamgir into custody after he came out of a gym in Dhanmondi-2 in the capital. He was later taken to the DB office for questioning.
The following day, on 15 December, he was placed on a five-day remand in a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act with Uttara West Police Station. After the remand period ended, he was sent to jail on 20 December.
Later, on 15 January, the ACC filed a case against Alamgir on charges of acquiring assets beyond known sources of income and money laundering.
On 25 January, the case's investigation officer and ACC Assistant Director Akhtaruzzaman applied to show him arrested in the case, which the court subsequently approved.
According to the case statement, investigators found that Alamgir possessed assets worth Tk4.09 crore, including immovable property worth Tk25 lakh and movable assets worth Tk3.84 crore. His family and other expenditures were estimated at Tk15.9 lakh.
This brings his total asset accumulation to Tk4.25 crore. However, his total income from known legal sources was calculated at Tk99.09 lakh, including past savings of Tk54.45 lakh, Tk19.39 lakh from talk shows and consultancy, Tk22 lakh from selling a plot, and Tk3.24 lakh from savings certificates and bank interest.
Based on this assessment, authorities claim that Alamgir possesses Tk3.26 crore more than his declared and acceptable income, accounting for about 77% of his total assets, which has been categorised as wealth beyond known sources of income.
Earlier, on 5 March, the High Court granted bail to Alamgir in an Anti-Terrorism Act case.
The case was filed in the early hours of 15 December last year by Ariyan Ahmed, who claimed to be a central organiser of the July Revolutionary Alliance. The complaint accused Anis Alamgir and three others, actor Meher Afroz Shaon, model Maria Kispotta, and media personality Imtu Ratish Imtiaz, of making provocative statements and spreading propaganda.
