3 arrestees sent to jail

A Dhaka court yesterday sent three individuals to jail -- arrested for their alleged involvement in distributing money to influence the recently-held national election and instigate violence -- on completion of their five-day remand. 

Before passing the order, Metropolitan Magistrate Abu Sufian Md Noman rejected their bail petitions, after their lawyer submitted petitions for them in the case.

The three accused are: Joynal Abedin, Alamgir Hossain and Ali Haider. Sub-inspector Md Faruque Hossain of Motijheel Police Station, investigation officer of the case, produced them before the court and appealed to the court to keep them in jail until the probe is complete.

In yesterday's forwarding report, the IO said he gathered vital information from them, which was being verified.

Ali is the managing director of United Enterprise and Corporation, while Joynal and Alamgir are employees of Amena Enterprise and Services Trust Ltd, a company owned by Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu, who was a Jatiya Oikyafront candidate from Shariatpur-3 constituency. He was defeated in the December 30 election.

On December 26, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) filed the case with Motijheel Police Station accusing six persons, including Mia Nuruddin, a day after the trio was arrested by the elite force.

Speaking at a press conference in front of United Corporation in Motijheel on the day of the arrest, Rab Director General Benazir Ahmed had said they seized Tk 8 crore and several cheques worth around Tk 10 crore from their possession.

He claimed the three had distributed about Tk 150 crore in various constituencies to instigate violence and influence the polls.

Rab sources said acting on information, they raided United Corporation and arrested Ali Haider. Gleaning information from Haider, Rab raided Amena Enterprise and detained two others.