A Dhaka court has ordered the imprisonment of economist and former chairman of Janata Bank, Professor Abul Barkat, in a case filed over the embezzlement of Tk297 crore involving Anantex Group.
On Friday (July 11) afternoon, after a hearing, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Jewel Rana issued the order.
During the hearing, the investigating officer of the case, Assistant Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Mohammad Shahjahan Miraz, produced the accused before the court and requested that he be kept in jail.
Defence lawyers sought bail for the accused, which was opposed by the prosecution. After hearing both sides, the court rejected the bail plea and ordered that he be sent to jail.
The case's investigating officer, ACC Assistant Director Mohammad Shahjahan Miraz, confirmed the information.
He said that a three-day remand for the accused had been sought. However, as the current court does not have jurisdiction to hold a remand hearing, the court ordered the accused to be sent to jail.
The remand hearing will take place later in a senior court.
Earlier, on Thursday at around 11:30pm, Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police (DB) arrested him from Road No 3 in Dhanmondi.
The case alleges that Barkat, along with former Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman and others, colluded in forging documents to disburse the funds, resulting in large-scale financial irregularities.
The ACC claims the embezzlement was carried out through deceptive and unethical practices, causing significant loss to public finance.
Professor Barkat previously chaired the Economics Department at Dhaka University and served as president of the Bangladesh Economics Association.
He also held the position of Janata Bank chairman during the Awami League government.
