Jubo Mohila League leader Papia, husband get 3.5 years' jail

Ex-Juba League leader Papya and her husband.

Dhaka, Aug 14 – A Dhaka court on Thursday sentenced expelled Jubo Mohila League leader Shamima Nur Papia and her husband Mafizur Rahman Sumon, to three and half-an-year of imprisonment each in a case filed over amassing wealth beyond known sources of income.

Judge of Dhaka Special Judge Court-3 Abu Taher passed the order and fined them Tk 5 lakh each, in default, to suffer six months more in rigorous imprisonment.

The Deputy Director of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against Papia and her husband for amassing wealth of Tk 6.15 crore beyond known sources on August 4, 2020.

On March 12, 2021, police submitted charge-sheet against them in the case.

According to the prosecution, on February 23, 2020, Rab raided two flats belonging to Papia and her husband Mofizur Rahman Sumon, a day after arresting them from Dhaka airport. 

Counterfeit notes and foreign currencies worth around Tk 2.5 lakh were seized from them during the drive.

About Tk 58 lakh was recovered from the two flats on Indira Road in Dhaka belonging to the couple and a presidential suite at a five-star hotel in the capital.

Apart from the lavish flats, Papia and her former Chhatra League leader husband own two more flats and two plots worth around Tk 2 crore in Narsingdi and a number of luxurious cars.

Three cases were filed against them – two at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station under the Arms Act and the Special Powers Acts and another with Airport Police under the Special Powers Act-1974.

Police arrested Papia and her husband Mafizur from Shahjalal Airport on February 22, 2020.

On August 4, 2020, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed a case against Papia and her husband for embezzling Tk 6.24 crore. - UNB