Janata Bank Scam: Ex-chair Dr Barkat sent to jail
Staff Reporter :
A Dhaka court has ordered the imprisonment of prominent economist and former Janata Bank Chairman Dr Abul Barkat in connection with a large-scale embezzlement case involving Tk 297 crore (approximately £21 million).
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which brought the case forward, had sought a three-day remand to interrogate Dr Barkat. However, the court has deferred its decision on both the remand and bail applications, stating that the matter will be addressed at a subsequent hearing.
Confirming the development on Friday afternoon, ACC spokesperson Md Akhtarul Islam said: “In the case filed by the ACC, the court has ordered that former Janata Bank Chairman Dr Abul Barkat be sent to jail. We requested a three-day remand, while the defence sought bail. The court will rule on both at a later date.”
Dr Barkat was arrested on Thursday night by the Detective Branch of police from the Dhanmondi area of Dhaka. He was subsequently handed over to the ACC and produced before the court on Friday morning.
The embezzlement case was initially filed on 20 February this year by ACC Deputy Director Nazmul Hussain. A total of 23 individuals have been named in the case, including former Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman, accused of facilitating the misappropriation of funds under the name of Ennontex Group.
Other high-profile individuals charged include former Deputy Governor Abu Hena Mohammad Razi Hasan, former Assistant Director Mosammat Ismat Ara Begum, and several former directors of Janata Bank – among them Dr Jamal Uddin Ahmed, Md Imdadul Haque, and Professor Dr Nitai Chandra Nath.
Also implicated are Janata Bank’s current Managing Director and CEO Abdus Salam Azad, along with several former senior officials of the bank, including deputy general managers and assistant general managers.
Additional accused include the Chairman of Ennontex Group, Md Yunus Badal, and two directors of M/s Suprab Spinning Limited – Md Anwar Hossain and Md Abu Talha.
The charges centre around allegations that large loans were issued fraudulently under the names of Ennontex Group and associated entities, without following due diligence, leading to significant financial losses.
The case represents one of the most high-profile financial corruption cases in recent years involving former top-level banking and regulatory officials in Bangladesh.
Further court proceedings, including decisions on the remand and bail petitions, are expected to be held in the coming days.