Bismillah Group scam: HC orders arrest of 7 fugitives in 7 days

High Court. Prothom Alo File Photo
High Court. Prothom Alo File Photo

The High Court on Tuesday ordered the arrest of seven fugitive accused, including Bismillah Group managing director Khaza Soleiman Anwar Chowdhury and its chairman Nowrin Hasib, within seven days and produce them before it in a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The HC bench of justice Nazrul Islam Talukder and justice KM Hafizul Alam passed the order and asked the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) to inform the court after implementing its order by 5 April.

It also asked for issuing a red alert through Interpol to arrest them.

Advocate Hasan SM Azim stood for the ACC while deputy attorney general AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state. Advocate SM Shahjahan argued for the accused at the court.

On 10 September 2018, a Dhaka court sentenced nine people, including Soleiman Anwar and Nowrin Hasib, to 10 years’ imprisonment in a money laundering case.

The court had also fined the convicts Tk 306.7 million and asked them to deposit the money to the government treasury within 60 days.

The other convicts are Shafiqul Anwar Chowdhury, father of Khaza Soleiman, deputy managing director Akbar Aziz, general manager Mohammad Abul Hossain Chowdhury, manager Riazuddin Ahmed and Network Framework System Limited chairman M Akter Hossain.

Two more convicts -- former Janata Bank official Mostaq Ahmed Khan and SM Shoyeb-UL-Kabir -- are now behind the bars.

The ACC filed 12 cases against 54 people over misappropriation of about Tk 12 billion from five banks by Bismillah Group on 3 November 2013.

ACC director Iqbal Hossain filed the cases with Ramna, Motijheel and New Market police stations in the capital.