Building Design Fraud

Janakantha editor, Rajuk official jailed

6 March 2008, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

A special court for dealing with graft cases yesterday sentenced editor of the daily Janakantha Atiqullah Khan Masud to seven years rigorous imprisonment (RI) on charge of getting approval of a building design from Rajuk through fraud. Special Court-6 of Tanzeena Ismail delivered the verdict in which Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) official SM Asaduzzaman was also awarded seven years' RI in the case. In addition, the two were fined Tk 6.03 crore each. They would have to serve an additional year in jail if they fail to pay the amount. ACC deputy assistant director Mahmud Hasan filed the case with Motijheel Police Station on September 30, 2007 accusing three persons. The name of Akram Hossain, another Rajuk employee, was later dropped in the charge sheet. There are seven other cases, including three for building design frauds, against the Janakantha editor. Verdict in another case against him will be announced on Sunday. The joint forces arrested Masud on March 7, 2007 from Janakantha building in Eskaton and he has been in custody since then. Asaduzzaman is absconding and was tried in absentia. According to case statement, Atiqullah Khan Masud submitted two designs to Rajuk for approval on June 26, 1990 for constructing a nine-storey and a six-storey buildings on Hosseini Dalan Road. Asaduzzaman managed a forged copy of Rajuk approval for the designs, instead of bringing the matter to the notice of building construction committee of Rajuk, and sent it to Masud's Globe Constructions. As a result, Masud was benefited Tk 6.03 crore, the case statement added. The case statement also said that Akram helped in getting rid of the file containing the forged copy of approval of the building designs.