Bangladesh News

Detained former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar was shown arrested yesterday in a case filed against him for concealing information in his wealth statement submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Meantime, the ACC pressed charges against Jamuna Group Chairman Nurul Islam Babul, his wife advocate Salma Islam and their son Shamim in a case for concealing information in wealth statements and amassing wealth illegally.

CASE AGAINST BABAR
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Golam Rabbani passed the order after ACC Deputy Assistant Director Rupak Kumar Saha, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted a petition to show him arrested in the case.

ACC Assistant Director Mirza Zahidul Alam filed the case against Babar with Ramna police on January 13 for hiding information about his wealth worth about Tk 7.6 crore in the wealth statement submitted to the ACC.

Babar submitted the statement on July 7 last year through the senior jail super of Dhaka Central Jail following an ACC order. He said he, his wife, son and daughter have moveable and immovable property worth about Tk 6.77 crore.

The former state minister mentioned that construction cost of his house at Madan upazila in Netrakona was Tk 8 lakh. But, during verification the Public Works Department found that the construction cost was about Tk 34.43 lakh.

The case statement also said Babar made no mention of Tk 6.79 lakh he deposited in his savings account with Gulshan branch of Prime Bank. The banking data shows that $1 million was sent to Babar’s account through demand draft from HSBC bank in Singapore on June 20, 2007.

The former state minister did not give any appropriate reply or explanation when he was asked about the source of the money. It suggests that he kept the money abroad as it was not earned legally.

The ACC official also mentioned that if further information or anyone’s involvement is found during investigation it would also be included in the case.

The army-led joint forces arrested Babar at his Gulshan residence on May 28 last year and recovered four illegal firearms, two magazines, and 297 rounds of ammunition.

Babar was handed down 17 years’ rigorous imprisonment for possessing illegal arms and ammunition.

Joint forces also recovered Tk 20 crore, which Babar received from Bashundhara Group in exchange for not implicating Shafiat Sobhan, son of the proprietor of the group, in a murder case.

CASE AGAINST BABUL
ACC Deputy Director Monzur Ahmed, also the IO of the case, submitted the charge sheet against Babul and two of his family members to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court showing 25 people as prosecution witnesses.

The IO prayed for issuance of arrest warrant against Babul’s wife Salma Islam and their son Shamim and the order to attach their properties, as they have been absconding since filing of the case.

Earlier, the High Court granted Babul bail in the case and he was released from jail.

The case was filed against Babul and others on August 19 last year for concealing information about wealth worth Tk 43,980,412 in their wealth statements and amassing assets worth Tk 76,427,500 illegally.