The Anti-Corruption Commission on Monday filed five separate cases against 34 people, including the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 former private industry and investment adviser Salman F Rahman, on charges of embezzling Tk聽1,939.76 crore from Janata Bank through loan forgery.
Earlier on the day, the anti-graft agency approved the five cases against Salman and 33 others at a commission meeting at its headquarters in the capital鈥檚 Segun Bagicha, said ACC director general (prevention) Md Akhtar Hossain at a press briefing.
The others accused are Salman鈥檚 son Shayan Fazlur Rahman, his brother ASF Rahman, and ASF Rahman鈥檚 son Ahmed Shahriar Rahman, Baximco Limited managing director Osman Kawsar Chowdhury, its directors Iqbal Ahmed, AB Siddiqur Rahman, Masud Ikramullah Khan, Shah Manjurul Haque, and Reem H Shamsuddoha, Skynet Apparels Ltd managing director Anwarul Bashar, its director Nasrin Ahmed, Crescent Accessories Ltd managing director Abu Nayeem Mahmud Salehin, its director Md Mostafizur Rahman Tanvir, Platinum Garments Ltd managing director Mohammad Alif Ibn Zulfiqar, its director Nusrat Haidar, New Dhaka Industries Ltd chairman Salauddin Khan Majlis, its director Abdur Rauf, Kanchpur Apparels Ltd managing director Mahfuzur Rahman Khan, its director Syed Tanvir Elahi, Peerless Garments Ltd managing director Wasiur Rahman and its director Rizia Akter.
The Janata Bank officials who made accused in the cases are the bank鈥檚 former managing directors Abdus Salam Azad and Abdul Jabbar, former general manager Mizanur Rahman, former deputy general manager Abdur Rahim, former GM Shahidul Islam, former DGM Md Momtazul Islam, senior officer Rafiqul Islam, manager Saleh Ahmed, former assistant GM Md Moazzem Hossain, former AGM Md Shahjahan, manager Humayun Kabir Dhali, and manager SM Mahatab Hossain Badsha.
According to the documents of the cases, the accused embezzled $21,55,28,801, equivalent to about Tk聽1,939.76 crore, from Janata Bank PLC鈥檚 local office in the name of loans taken by five companies.
A total of $5,02,50,772.25 was taken under the name of Peerless Garments Ltd, $1,89,03,658.90 under Platinum Garments Ltd, $8,40,29,547.44 under Kanchpur Apparels Ltd, $1,47,29,340 under Skynet Apparels Ltd and $4,77,15,482.46 under New Dhaka Industries Ltd.
The case documents stated that these funds were misappropriated and laundered abroad under the guise of export and import transactions through back-to-back letters of credit.
ACC deputy assistant director Roman Uddin filed a case against Salman F Rahman and 22 others.
The case stated that the accused, abusing their authority and colluding with one another, secured loan facilities from Janata Bank鈥檚 Export Development Fund for the newly created company and embezzled $50.25 million through falsified export and import transactions.
The second case involving Platinum Garments Ltd, was filed by ACC deputy assistant director Elman Ahmad Oni against Salman F Rahman and 22 others, alleging the misappropriation of $18.9 million in the same way.
The third case regarding Kanchpur Apparels Ltd, was lodged by ACC assistant director Minhaj Bin Islam against 25 people, including Salman F Rahman, over embezzling $84.03 million.
The fourth case involving Skynet Apparels Ltd, was filed by ACC deputy director Muhammad Zainal Abedin against Salman F Rahman and 22 others over the misappropriation of $14.73 million.
The fifth case involving New Dhaka Industries Ltd, was filed by ACC assistant director Sajjad Hossain against 16 accused, including Salman F Rahman, over misappropriating $47.72 million through fraudulent back-to-back LC transactions.
After the fall of the Awami League regime amid a student-led mass uprising on August 5, 2024, law enforcement agencies arrested Salman F Rahman on August 13.
He is now in jail in connection with a number of cases filed over allegations of murder during the July uprising while a number of graft cases were also filed against him over allegations of embezzling money through loan forgery.
On September 28, 2024, the ACC decided to launch an inquiry against Salman over allegations of his involvement in stock market manipulation and embezzlement of thousands of crores of taka from shareholders.
Salman, also a former AL lawmaker from Dhaka-1 constituency, allegedly misused his influence to obtain about Tk聽36,000 crore in loans from public and private banks, embezzle funds, and launder thousands of crores of taka abroad, said ACC officials.
