HC grants bail to ex-LGRD minister’s APS in money laundering case

The High Court on Monday granted bail to AHM Fuad, Assistant Personal Secretary to former Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives in a case filed over laundering Tk 2,500 Crore, earned through illegal means.

The bench of Justice Nazrul Islam Talukder and Khizir Hayat passed the order during a hearing on a bail petition submitted by the accused.

However, Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin, representing the state during the hearing, told UNB an appeal will be made to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court seeking suspension of the bail.

On June 26, 2020, Criminal Investigation Department Inspector SM Miraz Al Mahmud filed a case against ousted Faridpur Awami League General Secretary Sazzad Hossain Barkat and his brother Imtiaz Hasan Rubel at capital’s Kafrul police station over money laundering.

On March 3, 2021, a charge sheet was submitted in this case against 10 people including AHM Fuad, Barkat, Rubel, Khondokar Nazmul Hossain levi, former president of Faridpur AL, Swechchasebak League leader Ashiqur Rahman alias Farhan, Jubo League leader Fahan Bin Wazed Fine.

According to the case complaint, accused Barkat secured the position of top leader of ruling party in the district despite being related to two fugitive death-row convicts for war crimes, Razakars Khokon and Bacchu.

Meanwhile his brother Rabiul grabbed the position of Faridpur Press Club president despite never being a journalist.

Sheltered and recommended by former Faridpur sadar upazila chairman Khondokar Mohtesham Hasan, and Jubo League leader AHM Fuad, the two brothers illegally acquired assets worth Tk 3,000 crore by controlling tender, trading commissions, drug trade, and extortion from the transportation sector.

Of this asset Tk 2,535 crore has already been laundered to foreign countries through Hundi, the complaint said.

The case is currently under trial against 51 people including 10 named in the charge sheet.

APS of former LGRD minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, Fuad submitted a petition seeking bail to the High Court.

The High Court today granted him bail disposing a rule it issued earlier in this regard, reports UNB.