The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against 23 individuals, including former Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman and economist Abul Barkat, over allegations of embezzling Tk297 crore under the name of AnonTex Group.
The case was filed on Thursday at the ACC’s integrated district office in Dhaka, confirmed sources within the commission.
According to ACC Director General (Prevention) Akhtar Hossain, Atiur Rahman and Abul Barkat—who also served as the chairman of Janata Bank—allegedly colluded to approve loans amounting to Tk297 crore for 22 entities under the AnonTex Group through fraudulent means.
Case documents reveal that the funds were misappropriated from Janata Bank. The accused, including the former central bank governor and the noted economist, have been charged with facilitating the misappropriation through unethical financial manoeuvres.
Interestingly, ACC sources indicate that a 2022 investigation into irregularities surrounding the loans had found no substantial evidence linking them to the alleged misconduct, leading to the case being dropped at the time.
The latest move by the anti-graft watchdog raises fresh questions about the accountability of top financial regulators and their role in high-profile corporate loan scandals.
