Tofail Ahmed trial begins

A Dhaka court has framed charges against former minister and senior Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed and two others in a corruption case filed over the alleged embezzlement of Tk 1.25 crore two decades ago, formally marking the start of the trial.

Dhaka Divisional Special Judge Begum Shamima Afroze passed the order on Thursday. The court also fixed June 22 for recording witness testimonies in the case.

With the framing of charges, the long-stalled trial proceedings officially resumed.

According to court proceedings, defence lawyer Morshed Hossain Shaheen sought time before the charge hearing, but the court rejected the plea and proceeded with framing the charges.

Earlier, arrest warrants had been issued against Tofail Ahmed and another accused in the case. Among the accused, Mohammad Anwarul Islam also faces a warrant, while another accused, Mosharraf Hossain, appeared in court after securing bail and participated in the proceedings.

During the hearing, defence lawyer Khair Uddin Sikder told the court that his client Tofail Ahmed is suffering from physical and mental illness and is unable to recognise people or recall events, claiming he is unfit to participate in the trial and sought adjournment.

The case was originally filed in 2002 by then Anti-Corruption Bureau Inspector Kazi Shamsul Islam. The allegation states that Tofail Ahmed and his associates misappropriated Tk 1.25 crore through abuse of power and later concealed and transferred the funds.

The charge sheet alleges that the money was moved and withdrawn from the Sonali Bank Motijheel Corporate Branch with the involvement of Anwarul Islam, chief accountant of Madonna Advertising Ltd, and Mosharraf Hossain of Bhola.

Following investigation, charges were submitted against the accused, but the trial remained suspended for years due to a stay order from the High Court. After the recent withdrawal of the stay, the case proceedings have resumed.