Renowned economist and former Chairman of Janata Bank, Professor Dr. Abul Barkat, has been sent to jail in connection with a corruption case filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
On Friday afternoon, following a hearing at Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Magistrate Md. Jewel Rana ordered his detention.
During the hearing, ACC Assistant Director Mohammad Shahjahan Miraj requested a three-day remand for Dr. Barkat.
State prosecutors, including Additional Public Prosecutor Kaiyum Hossain Noyon, strongly supported the remand petition.
However, defense lawyer Abdul Awal appealed for bail on behalf of Dr. Barkat.
After considering the arguments, the court stated that the remand application would be handled by the relevant court (Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court) and ordered that the accused be sent to jail in the meantime.
Dr. Abul Barkat, a former chairman of Economics Department at Dhaka University and former president of Bangladesh Economic Association, was arrested by Detective Branch (DB) of police on Thursday night from Dhanmondi area in the capital.
ACC filed the case on February 20 against 23 individuals, including Dr. Barkat, over allegations of embezzling Tk 297 crore through illegal loan facilities granted to AnonTex Group.
According to the case statement, Professor Barkat, during his tenure as Chairman of Janata Bank, facilitated undue advantages for AnonTex Group, aiding in misappropriation of Tk 297 crore.
The list of accused includes several high-profile figures, such as former Janata Bank Director Jamal Uddin Ahmed and former Governor of Bangladesh Bank, Dr. Atiur Rahman.
