Money laundering: Ex-minister Khandaker Mosharraf’s brother arrested
Police arrested former public works’ minister Khandaker Mosharraf’s brother in a case filed for money laundering from Bashundhara residential area in the capital early Tuesday.
Accused Khandaker Mohtesham Hossain was arrested around 3:00am, said superintendent of police in Faridpur M Alimuzzaman.
Khandaker Mohtesham Hossain was the vice-president of ruling Awami League’s current district committee. He was also the chairman of Faridpur sadar upazila.
Speaking to Prothom Alo, Faridpur Kotwali police station officer-in-charge MA Jalil said a court issued arrest warrant against Khandaker Mohtesham Hossain in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in 2005. Alongside, the court issued another arrest warrant against him in a money laundering case filed with Kafrul police station in Dhaka.
He further said currently Khandaker Mohtesham Hossain is in custody of Kotwali police.
Earlier, on 26 June 2020, CID inspector SM Miraj Al Mahmud filed a money laundering case with Kafrul police station in the capital against two brothers, Barkat and Rubel, who were known as right hands of former minister Khandaker Mosharraf.
The case was filed against the two brothers on charge of earning wealth worth Tk 20 billion (2,000 crore) illegally and siphoning off. Police investigated the case and submitted charge sheet against 10 people, including Barkat and Rubel, on 3 March last year.
People hiding and people arrested
Currently, Sazzad Hossain Barkat, Imtiaz Hasan Rubel, Najmul Islam Khandaker Levy and Ashiqur Farhan are arrested and behind the bars. But Khandaker Mohtesham Hossain was on the run. Following the arrest of Khandaker Mohtesham Hossain, another five accused – Mohammad Bin Ali Minar, AHM Fuad, Fahad Bin Wazed, Tariqul Islam and Kamrul Hasan -- are hiding.
Indictment hearing against 10 including Barkat, suspended Faridpur city Awami League general secretary, and his brother Rubel started on Monday. The court of Dhaka Special Judge Court-10 acting judge Mohammad Najrul Islam has fixed 24 March as the next date of hearing.
On 25 February last year, the court ordered the confiscation of Barkat and Rubel’s 5,706 bighas land, Tk 100 million in 188 bank accounts, and 55 buses, trucks and private vehicles.