Shamim Iskander arrested for ill-gotten wealth

The joint forces last night arrested Shamim Iskander, younger brother of detained former prime minister Khaleda Zia, in Dhaka Cantonment area.
A retired flight engineer of Bangladesh Biman, Shamim Iskander was arrested in connection with a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for amassing wealth illegally. The ACC filed the case with Ramna Police station on May 5 this year.
Sources said the joint forces picked up Shamim at around 9:45pm as he came out of Khaleda Zia's Shaheed Moinul Road residence after visiting his nephew Arafat Rahman Koko. ACC personnel were also present there.
Koko was released on Thursday for two months for his treatment abroad. He will fly to Bangkok today.
ACC Deputy Assistant Director AM Javed Hasan, also the investigation officer (IO) of the case, told The Daily Star last night that Shamim amassed wealth worth Tk 20.47 lakh beyond his known sources of income. His wife Kaniz Fatema is also an accused in the case.
He said Shamim will be produced before court today.
Talking to The Daily Star, Anwar Hossain, deputy commissioner (DC) of police, Mirpur Zone, said police helped the ACC and others arrest Shamim Iskander.
After the arrest, Shamim was taken to the custody of Kafrul police.
Shamim Iskander's name was on the second list of 50 corruption suspects. Name of BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman was also on the same the list.
Besides, the Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) of the NBR on June 21 last year sent letters to the banks seeking account details of Shamim Iskander and 60 others.
The banks were also asked to provide transaction reports of his sons Fayek Iskander and Fasbir Iskander.
It is alleged that Shamim Iskander was involved in financial irregularities while in service. He was also involved in hiring planes and other purchases for Biman Bangladesh Airlines.
Shamim Iskander went into voluntary retirement at the fag end of the BNP-led alliance government.