Tk531cr embezzlement: Arrest warrants issued against ex-BB governor Atiur Rahman, 25 others
Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Faiz passed the order on 15 January.
A Dhaka court has issued arrest warrants against former Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman and 25 others in a case over the alleged embezzlement of about Tk531 crore in the name of AnonTex Group.
Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Faiz passed the order on 15 January.
Confirming the matter today (20 January), Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Public Prosecutor Mohammad Tarikul Islam told The Business Standard that of the 26 accused named in the charge sheet, former Janata Bank chairman Abul Barkat has already been arrested and is currently in jail.
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"Five other accused had earlier secured bail from the High Court but later went into hiding, prompting the court to issue arrest warrants against them," he added.
On 20 February 2024, ACC Deputy Director Nazmul Hossain filed a case against Abul Barkat and 22 others, accusing them of embezzling Tk297 crore in the name of AnonTex Group.
According to the case statement, former governor Atiur Rahman and Abul Barkat, acting in collusion, facilitated loans to 22 AnonTex Group companies through fraud and forgery. Atiur and his associates misappropriated the funds using various unethical means.
A charge sheet was submitted on 20 October the same year against 26 accused.
It stated that the accused false records through deception and forgery to embezzle about Tk531.44 crore from Janata Bank. "With interest, the amount has risen to around Tk1,130.19 crore."
The original FIR, however, cited the embezzled amount as Tk297.38 crore.
Among the other accused are former Bangladesh Bank deputy governor Abu Hena Mohammad Razee Hassan, former assistant director Mosammat Ismat Ara Begum, former Janata Bank director Jamal Uddin Ahmed, and former Janata Bank Managing Director and CEO Abdus Salam Azad.
