Faridpur ex-AL leader denied bail

The High Court yesterday refused to grant bail to former Faridpur town unit Awami League general secretary Sajjad Hossain alias Barkat and his brother Imtiaz Hasan alias Rubel, in a case filed for laundering Tk 2,000 crore abroad.

The HC, however, issued a rule asking the state and Anti-Corruption Commission to explain in two weeks why they should not be granted bail in the case.

The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel came up with the rule after virtually hearing a petition filed by Barkat and Rubel, also former president of Faridpur Press Club, seeking bail in the case.

ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told The Daily Star that Barkat and Rubel cannot get released from jail following the HC rule.

SM Miraj Al Mahmud, a CID inspector, lodged the case against the two brothers under the money laundering act with Kafrul Police Station on June 26 last year.

On June 7 last year, police arrested nine people, including Sajjad and Rubel, from different parts of Faridpur town for their alleged involvement in attacking a house of one Subal Chandra in the town's Goalchamat area on May 16.

According to the case statement, the duo amassed a huge amount of wealth after they won contracts from various government departments in the district through manipulation since 2010.

They were also allegedly involved in drug trading and land grabbing. The two became owners of around 23 buses, and several trucks and cars.