Atiur, Barakat, 21 others barred from leaving country

A Dhaka court has imposed a travel embargo on former governor of Bangladesh Bank Atiur Rahman, former Janata Bank chairman Abul Barkat and 21 other individuals over graft allegations.

Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Zakir Hossain Galib passed the order on Thursday (March 6), accepting a petition filed by Md Shahjahan Miraj, assistant director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The 21 other people, who are facing travel ban, are former deputy governor-2 of Bangladesh Bank Abu Hena Mohammad Raji Hassan, former assistant director Mosammet Ismat Ara Begum, former director Jamal Uddin Ahmed, Md Emdadul Haque, Najibul Islam Dipu, Dr RM Debnath, Md Abu Naser, Sangita Ahmed, Prof Nitai Chandra Nath, former managing director and CEO of Janata bank Abdus Salam Azad, former deputy general manager Azmul Haque, former assistant general manager Ajay Kumar Ghosh, former manager (Industrial Loan-1) Md Golam Azam, SME Division’s executive engineer Md Shahjahan, SEO Md Emdadul Haque, former deputy general manager Md Abdul Jabbar, former general manager and deputy managing director Md Golam Faruq, AnonTex Group Chairman and Managing Director Md Younus Badal, M/S Suprov Spinning Limited Managing Director Md Anwar Hossain and its director Md Abu Talha.

On February 20, the ACC filed a case against the 23 for embezzling Tk 297,38,87,296 crore of Janata Bank through loan fraud involving AnonTex Group.

The anti-graft body in its plea said it is investigating the case and the accused are attempting to flee the country to evade justice. So, travel ban should be imposed on them for the sake of proper investigation.