Arrest warrant issued against Ctg businessman Maheen over Tk189cr default loan

A Chattogram court has issued arrest warrant against shipbreaking businessman Ashikur Rahman Lashkar Maheen in connection with a Tk189 crore loan default case.

Judge Mujahidur Rahman of the Chattogram Money Loan Court issued the warrant today (2 December), said assistant of the bench Rezaul Karim.

National Bank filed the case on 1 December 2022 to recover the unpaid amount.

Wishing anonymity, an official of Khatunganj branch of National Bank, told TBS that Maheen took the loan via Moazzem Hossain and his wife Sadika Afrin under the name of Grand Trading Enterprise. 

According to the bank officials, Maheen was able to obtain this loan by using his connections with the higher-ups and without adhering to any legal procedures.

In 2018, Maheen obtained a Tk175 crore loan from National Bank's Khatunganj branch for his ship-breaking business – Grand Trading Enterprise.

Filed documents stated the company was located in North Sonachari of Sitakunda, but upon investigation, no such establishment was found, bank officials said. 

Unearthing the matter, the bank filed a loan case against three individuals, including Maheen.

Reviewing the case, Chattogram Money Loan Court later ordered a travel ban on Maheen on 5 March last year. 

However, Lashkar and his family flew to Dubai through Chattogram Airport the next day.

A letter in this regard was sent to the central bank governor, Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Superintendent of Police (Immigration) on 19 March and Maheen's passport was suspended (stop list) on 21 March, said Muktadir Moula, record keeper at the Money Loan Court in Chattogram.

The court order stated that the loan was disbursed in violation of existing banking norms. 

Furthermore, no repayments have been made since the loans were issued in 2019, it said.