Zoom meeting from hospital prison cell!

"It's the fifth meeting since I created the group and this meeting will continue regularly," Destiny Group Managing Director Md Rafiqul Amin was seen in a video telling the participants of a Zoom meeting.

The leaked video clip allegedly of his recent meeting with Destiny officials and business partners went viral on social media. He allegedly joined the meeting from the prison cell at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU).

Rafiqul has been in jail since 2012 when he was arrested in cases filed over embezzling and laundering Tk 4,200 crore.

Meanwhile, the jail authorities have withdrawn eight prison guards after the media reported on the virtual meeting. Two prison guards guard Rafiqul's hospital cabin round the clock in shifts.

He along with several other high-profile prisoners had hit the headlines on several occasions previously for "managing to go to hospitals on the excuse of ailments, staying in hospital cabins for long and living a lavish life.

Once the media reported on Rafiqul's lavish life, he was taken back to prison. But he again managed to return to a hospital and allegedly started running his business from there.

A couple of years ago, The Daily Star correspondent visited the cabin of Rafiqul in BIRDEM General Hospital where he stayed for around a year. This newspaper found that the "patient" moved around the cell area freely, had home-made meals, and met family members and others linked to his business to carry out necessary activities.

The leaked video clip shows Rafiqul discussing the business of another multi-level marketing (MLM) company like the one owned by him -- Destiny 2000. He also discussed appointing 1,300 marketing agents.

Talking to a private TV channel recently, a number of participants have admitted joining the Zoom meeting.

A participant said the meeting used to start at 1:00am and continue till 3:00am to 3:30am. Rafiqul's profile picture in the Zoom application was named "R".

Jail officials said Rafiqul, as a prisoner, is not supposed to have access to any mobile phones or other devices or internet facilities.

Inspector General of Prisons Brig Gen Md Mominur Rahman Mamun yesterday said a three-member inquiry committee, headed by Deputy Inspector (prisons) Towhidul Islam, was formed on Thursday to investigate the incident.

The committee was asked to submit its report in seven working days, he added.

"After receiving the report, we will take punitive actions against those found involved in the incident," Mominur told The Daily Star.

Asked whether Rafiqul would be taken back to prison, he said it depends on doctors' advice.

Rafiqul was admitted to the BSMMU in April on doctors' advice following complaints of his urology problem and diabetes, the IG (prisons) said.