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Bangladesh

Khaleda, Koko's wife and daughters summoned

2015-03-23

[Dhaka Tribune] A Dhaka court has summoned BNP Chairperson the loathesome Khaleda Zia Three-term PM of Bangla, widow of deceased dictator Ziaur Rahman, head of the Bangla Nationalist Party, an apparent magnet for corruption ... , her daughter-in-law and two granddaughters to appear before the court on April 12 in connection with Dandy Dyeing loan default case. Judge (acting) Ruksana Parvin Happy of Dhaka Artha Rin Adalat 1 (money loan court) passed the order on Sunday afternoon following a summon petition filed by Sonali Bank lawyer Hosne Ara Begum. The court also fixed April 12 for framing issue and hearing of the case. On March 16, the BNP chief along with her daughter-in-law Sharmila Rahman and granddaughters -- Jahiya Rahman and Jafiya Rahman were made defendants in the case filed against the directors of Dandy Dyeing Ltd for defaulting on a loan of Tk45.49 crore. Following Koko's death in Malaysia on January 24, Sonali Bank's Senior Executive Officer Nazrul Islam filed the petition before the court on March 8 as per order 22 and rule 4 of Code of Civil Procedure (CPC). The other defendants in the case are Dandy Dyeing Directors Tarique Rahman ...the elder son of former President of Bangladesh Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam, and Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh. He is the Senior Vice Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). His nickname is Pino. There are allegations that Pino took a rakeoff from every foreign investment into the country while Mom was in office... -- Khaleda's eldest son; Giasuddin Al Mamun and his wife Shahina Begum; Nasrin Iskander -- wife of Khaleda's brother late Sayeed Iskander -- and their sons Shams Iskander and Shafin Iskander and daughter Sumaiya Iskander; Gazi Galib Abdus Sattar, Shamsun Nahar and Masud Hassan. According to the case statement, the defendants on February 24, 1993, applied to Sonali Bank for a Tk13.14 crore loan in favour of Dandy Dyeing. On May 9, the same year, the bank approved the loan. The governing body of the bank on October 16, 2001 waived the loan interests following an application by the defendants, and later the loan was rescheduled. On October 2, 2012, Sonali Bank filed the case as the defendants failed to repay the loan, though the bank issued a final notice on February 28, 2010, asking them to repay the loan.

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Bangladesh

Tarique laundered money

2011-11-17

[Bangla Daily Star] An FBI agent yesterday testified in the Tk-20.41-crore money-laundering case filed against BNP chief Khaleda Zia's Three-term PM of Bangla, widow of deceased dictator Ziaur Rahman, head of the Bangla Nationalist Party, an apparent magnet for corruption ... son Tarique Rahman ...the elder son of former President of Bangladesh Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam, and Khaleda Zia, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh. He is the Senior Vice Chairperson of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). His nickname is Pino. There are allegations that Pino took a rakeoff from every foreign investment into the country while Mom was in office... and his business partner Giasuddin Al Mamun. This is for the first time that a US Federal Bureau of Investigation agent has testified before a court in Bangladesh. The testimony is expected to be a turning point in the case since the agent has effectively said Tarique laundered money through using Mamun's account in a Singapore bank. Debra Laprevotte, a supervisory special agent of the FBI, narrated before a Dhaka court how she had tracked down the money allegedly laundered by BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman and Mamun to a bank account in Singapore. She said the documents recovered from the Singapore bank include detailed records of money transfers and payments made from the account. It also had photocopies of Tarique and Mamun's passports, which were submitted when the two applied for credit cards from the bank. "The first credit card on the account was a Visa credit card in the name of Mr Mamun," she told the court, adding, "...There is another credit card in the name of Tarique Rahman." Giasuddin Al Mamun, 47, stood in the dock at the back of the courtroom throughout the two-hour-long proceedings yesterday. Tarique Rahman remains a runaway. After Laprevotte's testimony, the judge of Special Judge's Court-3 asked Mamun whether he would like to cross-examine Laprevotte to which Mamun shook his head to say no. His lawyer had earlier left the court protesting Laprevotte's testimony. When the proceedings began at 11:20pm, barrister Fakhrul Islam, Mamun's lawyer, opposed Laprevotte's testifying. He submitted a petition seeking adjournment of the hearing on the ground that the witness had not been mentioned in the charge sheet and that additional witnesses could only testify after all witnesses mentioned in the charge sheet had given their depositions.

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Bangladesh

Tarique arraigned

2011-08-09

[Bangla Daily Star] A Dhaka court yesterday framed money laundering charges against BNP Senior Vice-chairman Tarique Rahman and issued an arrest warrant against him, who is now staying in London for treatment. The court also framed charges against another accused in the case Giasuddin Al Mamun, an associate and business partner of Tarique, the elder son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia Three-term PM of Bangla, widow of deceased dictator Ziaur Rahman, head of the Bangla Nationalist Party, an apparent magnet for corruption ... . Mamun was present at the court. Yesterday's charge framing which is the second against Tarique, has paved the way for holding a trial. He is also accused in 16 other cases including one in connection with August 21, 2004 grenade attack on an Awami League rally. Tarique was earlier indicted in a corruption case filed for taking Tk 21 crore as bribe from Bashundhara Group boss to save the wealthy businessman's son from a murder charge in 2007. The Special Judge's Court-3 yesterday fixed September 11 for starting the trial of the money laundering case through recording the complainant's deposition.

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Bangladesh

Court asks Tarique to appear Aug 8

2011-07-26

[Bangla Daily Star] A Dhaka court on Monday asked Tarique Rahman, senior vice-chairman of BNP, to appear before it on August 8 in a money laundering case. Judge Mohammad Mozammel Hossain of the Special Judge's Court-3 passed the order as 'Tarique did not appear before the court for a single day in the case'. The court further said if Tarique, elder son of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia Three-term PM of Bangla, widow of deceased dictator Ziaur Rahman, head of the Bangla Nationalist Party, an apparent magnet for corruption ... , fails to appear before it on the scheduled day, charge will be framed against him in his absence. Meanwhile, ...back at the the conspirators' cleverly concealed hideout the long-awaited message arrived. They quickly got to work with their decoder rings... the court adjourned the hearing on charge framing against Tarique's business partner Giasuddin Al Mamun, another accused in the case, till August 8 following a time petition. Mamun's lawyer placed the petition on the ground that a writ petition have been submitted with the High Court on behalf of Tarique seeking to quash the case but hearing on the petition remains pending. Tarique's lawyer also submitted a petition seeking adjournment of the hearing on the ground that the Supreme Court has rejected a review petition submitted on behalf of Tarique. The lawyer, however, did not receive the certified copy of the judgement and so prayed for the adjournment of the hearing. Prosecution lawyer Anisul Huq told the court that there is no ground for seeking adjournment of the hearing against Tarique. Since Mamun's lawyer could not get any stay order from the higher court, there was no legal bar to frame charges against him, he said. The judge, however, did not pass any order on the petition filed on behalf of Tarique on Monday. Mamun was present during the hearing while Tarique had gone abroad earlier for medical treatment. Previously on May 5, the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court took into cognisance the charges against Tarique and Mamun and transferred the money laundering case to the Special Judge's Court-3 for its quick disposal. According to the Supreme Court's (SC) verdict on February 9 this year, proceedings of the case against Tarique cannot run under the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2009 as the alleged offence took place before its enactment. However, there's more than one way to stuff a chicken... the trial can proceed under the 2002 act, the SC added. On July 6 last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) pressed charges against the duo for laundering Tk 20.41 crore between 2003 and 2007.

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Bangladesh

Koko charged afresh for money laundering

2011-06-07

[Bangla Daily Star] A Dhaka court on Monday framed charges afresh against Arafat Rahman Koko, younger son of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, Three-term PM of Bangla, widow of deceased dictator Ziaur Rahman, head of the Bangla Nationalist Party, an apparent magnet for corruption ... for money laundering. Fresh charges were pressed under Money Laundering Prevention Act 2002. The same court on November 30 last year indicted Koko for money laundering under Money Laundering Prevention Act 2009. The fresh charges were framed to avoid legal complications as the events Koko has been charged for took place before 2009. Ismail Hossain Saimon, son of former shipping minister later Akbar Hosain, was also indicted in the case. Judge Mozammel Hossain of the Special Judge's Court-3 framed the charges following an application submitted by Special Public Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajol. Kajol mentioned in his petition that the Supreme Court in its February 9 verdict said charges of the money laundering case against BNP Senior Vice President Tarique Rahman and his business partner Giasuddin Al Mamun will run under Money Laundering Prevention Act 2002 as the crimes were committed before 2009. The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case against Koko on March 17, 2009 saying that the accused had laundered money they received from China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd and Siemens for helping them win government contracts. China Harbour got a Tk 351 crore contract to set up New Mooring Container Terminal and Siemens a Tk 239 crore contract to supply and install equipment for Teletalk, the state-owned cellphone operator. The ACC pressed charges against Koko and Saimon on November 15, 2009.

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Bangladesh

Khaleda, Nizami, Tarique make bail

2008-08-27

The High Court (HC) yesterday granted a four-month ad interim bail to detained BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman in the "Zia Orphanage Trust" fund embezzlement case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The HC granted anticipatory bail to Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami in the Barapukuria coalmine corruption case until the trial court concerned accepts the charge sheet of the Barapukuria coalmine corruption case. The HC also granted ad interim bail to Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, former parliamentary affairs adviser to former prime minister Khaleda Zia, and Giasuddin Al Mamun, friend of Tarique Rahman, in separate criminal cases.

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Bangladesh

Trials of 44 out of 573 completed so far

2007-10-25

Forty-four out of 573 cases filed against high-profile corrupt suspects and their relatives have been disposed of during the present caretaker government's nine-month tenure. Chairman of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on serious crimes Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin hoped to complete trial of rest of the cases before the government hands over power to an elected government. "Primarily, it took time to deal with the cases due to shortage of skilled manpower for investigations. Army personnel who are helping us were also not that efficient," Matin told reporters during a briefing at the communications ministry yesterday. "Performance in the coming months will be better as our men are now more experienced and competent," Matin, also the communications adviser, said. The Anti-Corruption Commission, National Board of Revenue and police filed 372 cases while others lodged 201 cases against the corrupt suspects whose names were published in five phases. A total of 131 cases are now under trial while investigations are in progress in 285 other cases, the NCC chief said. Inquiry is on in 88 cases while preliminary inquiry is being done in 25 other cases. Names of 50 corrupt suspects came in the first list, 51 in the second, 39 in the third, 35 in the first part of fourth list and two in a special list. About 100 big shots have so far been apprehended during crackdown on corrupt politicians, ministers and businessmen. High-profile people who have been awarded punishments in 44 cases include former ministers Nazmul Huda, Mohammad Nasim, Shahjahan Siraj, Amanullah Aman, Anwar Hossain Monju and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, ex-lawmakers Naser Rahman, Ali Asgar Lobi, and Nadim Mostafa, Rajshahi Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu, political secretary to former prime minister Khaleda Zia Harris Chowdhury and businessman Giasuddin Al Mamun. Investigations into corruption charges are on against former premiers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, now staying in sub-jails in the capital. Matin said 60 to 62 task forces are currently working across the country. The number of task forces needs to be increased, he felt.

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Bangladesh

Babar, Mamun sent to jail after remand

2007-06-13

Detained former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar and Giasuddin Al Mamun, close friend of BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman, were sent to jail yesterday on completion of their remands. New Market police yesterday pressed charges against Awami League (AL) leader and chairman of Shinepukur Holdings Limited Salman F Rahman and his brother Ahmed Sohel Fashiur Rahman in two cheating cases. Gulshan police produced Babar before the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Quamrunnahar at 4.15pm on completion of his three-day remand in connection with an arms case. In the forwarding report, the investigation officer (IO) said he gathered important information about Babar's illegal firearms and ammunition. The information derived from Babar is being verified and he needs to be confined in the jail custody until the investigation completes, the IO added. Opposing the prosecution plea, Babar's defence lawyer Advocate Sanaullah Miah told the court that his client denied the news items published in different national dailies about his given statements to the Joint Interrogation Cell and said these were false, fabricated and concocted. Moreover, the seized items for which the case was filed were false, the lawyer added. "Lies! All lies!" Meantime, Babar broke down in tears in the dock after seeing his wife and sister. The two asked him to keep patience. The former state minister was earlier remanded for eight days--four days under Emergency Power Rules and four days in the arms case. He was arrested in the third round of government crackdown on high profile graft suspects on May 28. The joint forces also recovered a shotgun, a rifle, a pistol, a Brazil-made revolver, two magazines and 297 bullets from his (Babar) Gulshan residence.

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Bangladesh

Babar talks about illegal VoIP network

2007-06-13

Most of the ministers' sons used to run illegal Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) business and make a profit of up to Tk 5 crore a month during the BNP-led alliance rule. Of them, former finance minister M Saifur Rahman's son [Babu] and daughter both were involved in the lucrative but unlicensed Internet telephony services that deprived the government of up to Tk 3,000 crore in revenue each month. Lutfozzaman Babar, ex-state minister for home, has recently given away the information about the high-profile VoIP syndicate to the Task Force for Interrogation (TFI). The names he mentioned under interrogation include Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman, Giasuddin Al Mamun, owner of Daffodil Computers Sabur Khan and sons of Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and AL leader and former telecoms minister Mohammad Nasim. Sources close to the interrogators quoting Babar also said that former premier Khaleda Zia's nephew Shahrin Islam Tuhin would control the entire business through Sabur Khan. The VoIP rackets used to operate through those having Internet Service Provider (ISP) license. Besides, the former state minister said, when Saifur's son Babu had smuggled in a huge consignment of cigarettes, the then finance minister had played a mere onlooker's role. Babar told the interrogators that each of those in the VoIP business would earn between Tk 4 crore and Tk 5 crore. He claimed that he raised the issue before Khaleda Zia at least 50 times and urged her either to stop the illegal business or legalise it by issuing licence. Each time she assured that she would look into the matter later but it never came true. Tarique himself made sure no actions were taken against the VoIP operators. Babar also contended that not a single sector was free of corruption during the BNP-Jamaat-led alliance rule.

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Bangladesh

Mamun jailed for 3yrs by anti-graft court

2007-06-08

A special anti-graft court yesterday sentenced Giasuddin Al Mamun, a controversial businessman and close friend of former prime minister Khaleda Zia's son Tarique Rahman, to three years' imprisonment for not submitting wealth statement to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). This is the second judgment by the special courts set up at the MP Hostel in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital for quick disposal of the corruption cases. "The sentence shall take effect at once," said Fifth Special Court Judge Ashraf Hossain. After the conviction, Mamun's counsel barrister AKM Fakhrul Islam said, "We will file an appeal in the High Court against the verdict." The same judge's court on May 21 gave first judgement of the special court and sentenced Harris Chowdhury, political secretary to former prime minister Khaleda Zia, to three years' imprisonment for not submitting his wealth statement to the ACC. Mamun, now in jail, was produced before the court yesterday while the judge read out the written judgment. Mamun, who was shown arrested on March 26 in an extortion case, told the special court on May 29 that he could not submit his wealth statement in time as he was in the joint forces' custody from January 31 to March 26.

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Bangladesh

Verdict of graft case against Mamun today

2007-06-07

A special court dealing with graft cases will today deliver the verdict of a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against Giasuddin Al Mamun, a close friend and business partner of Tarique Rahman. Fifth Special Court Judge Ashraf Hossain on June 4 fixed today for delivery of the verdict. The ACC filed the case against controversial businessman Mamun as he failed to submit his wealth statement to the anti-graft body that served him a notice on February 18 to submit his wealth statement within 72 hours. Mamun, who is now in jail, told the court on May 29 that he could not submit his wealth statement in time as he was in the custody of the joint forces from January 31 to March 26.

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Bangladesh

Mayor Minu lands in jail on surrender

2007-06-07

Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu was sent to jail after he surrendered before a Rajshahi court while former BNP lawmaker Ali Asgar Lobi, former Awami League (AL) lawmaker Obaidul Quader and Tarique Rahman's business partner Giasuddin Al Mamun were remanded on different terms yesterday. An assault case was meanwhile filed against detained former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar in Netrakona while an extortion case was lodged against former AL lawmaker Advocate Rahmat Ali with a Gazipur court yesterday. The joint forces yesterday arrested Dhamrai Pourasabha Chairman and local BNP leader Dewan Nazim Uddin Manju on different charges including land grabbing and extortion. Our correspondent in Rajshahi reports: A Rajshahi Metropolitan Magistrate Court yesterday sent Mizanur Rahman Minu, Rajshahi district BNP Vice President Nazrul Huda and former city BNP general secretary Shafiqul Haque Milon to jail after they surrendered before it following a High Court (HC) order over an extortion case. Earlier on May 28, an HC bench asked Minu and two others to surrender before the court within three weeks. Shamsul Alam Khan, a governing body member of Evergreen Model College, filed the case with Rajpara Police Station on April 21 accusing 11 persons and Sub-Inspector Abdur Rahman Sarkar pressed charges against them on May 16. According to charges, at the direction of Minu the accused waylaid Shamsul Alam at the Baharampur bypass intersection on March 29 and demanded Tk 4 lakh toll. They also assaulted him. Minu allegedly called Shamsul and college Principal Abu Yusuf Selim at his office last year and requested them to include Nazrul and Milon in the college's governing body. As Shamsul did not agree to do it, Nazrul, Milon and Sentu went to the college and demanded Tk 1 lakh toll on July 4 last year. They forcibly took away bricks worth Tk 25,000 and furniture worth Tk 13,000 from the college.

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