C&F agent denied bail in 4 smuggling cases
The High Court has rejected four bail petitions of a clearing and forwarding (C&F) agent in Chattogram in four cases filed over smuggling.
Following the order, Mizanur Rahman Chaklader -- an accused in 22 cases involving around Tk 2,000 crore -- cannot get released from jail, Deputy Attorney General (DAG) AKM Amin Uddin Manik told The Daily Star.
The bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice KM Hafizul Alam passed the orders on Wednesday, saying the bail petitions were not submitted properly.
Amin Uddin said an investigation of Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) found Mizanur Rahman misappropriated around Tk 2,000 crore by dodging duty, smuggling and forging 3,777 bills of entry in the name of releasing products through user IDs of two former customs officials, over the last two years.
CIID filed a case with Ramna Police Station on January 16 against Chaklader for duty dodging, smuggling and forgery. Later, 21 other cases were filed on similar charges.
The HC on July 14 granted six months’ ad-interim bail to Chaklader in the first case, and issued a rule asking the government and Anti-Corruption Commission to explain why he should not be granted permanent bail, he said.
On October 27, the Supreme Court scrapped the HC order, and ordered him to surrender to the trial court.
On November 3, Chaklader surrendered to a Dhaka court that sent him to jail.
Chaklader then filed four separate petitions with the HC seeking bail in four cases, DAG Manik said.
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