Trial begins in 24-year-old graft case against Tofail Ahmed, witness testimony on 22 June
Dhaka Divisional Special Judge Begum Shamima Afroze passed the order today (7 May) after rejecting dismissal petitions filed by the accused
A Dhaka court has framed charges against former industries minister and veteran Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed and two others in a corruption case over the alleged embezzlement of Tk1.25 crore through abuse of power, formally opening the trial.
Dhaka Divisional Special Judge Begum Shamima Afroze passed the order today (7 May) after rejecting dismissal petitions filed by the accused.
The court also set 22 June for recording witness testimony, confirmed Tofail Ahmed's lawyer Md Khaer Uddin Sikder.
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Proceedings in the case remained stayed for years following a High Court order, before being revived suo motu following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024.
The other accused facing trial are Mohammad Anwarul Islam, chief accountant of Madonna Advertising Limited and Bhola resident Mosharraf Hossain.
Of them, Mosharraf Hossain was present in court, while the other two remain absconding.
Earlier, on 19 April, the same court issued arrest warrants against Tofail Ahmed and another accused for remaining absent from proceedings.
According to the case statement, the case was filed in 2002 by Kazi Shamsul Islam, an inspector of the then Bureau of Anti-Corruption.
It alleged that Tofail Ahmed transferred and withdrew illegally acquired funds amounting to Tk1.25 crore through associates in an attempt to conceal the money obtained by abusing power.
The complaint further alleged that the money was transferred at different times from Sonali Bank's Motijheel Corporate Branch in collusion with Mohammad Anwarul Islam and Mosharraf Hossain, before being withdrawn later.
After completing the investigation, a chargesheet was submitted to the court against the three accused.
However, after the Awami League returned to power, proceedings in the case remained stayed for years following a High Court order.
After 5 August 2024, the court revived the case suo motu and sent it back to the lower court for further proceedings.
Tofail Ahmed has been wheelchair-bound for several years following a stroke. The 82-year-old has been receiving treatment since 27 September last year. On 4 October, rumours of his death spread on social media, but his family later confirmed that he was alive and continuing treatment at the hospital.
He showed improvement in his physical condition after more than four months of treatment at Square Hospitals Ltd and was shifted to a cabin in late February.
