Former MP ABM Fazle Karim ‘shown-arrest’ in Anti-Corruption Commission case

Former MP ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury of Chittagong-6 (Raujan) constituency has been shown arrested (shown-arrest) in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on charges of suspicious transactions and illegal acquisition of assets.

The court of Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions Judge Hasanul Islam gave this order after a hearing on Wednesday (October 22).

Accused ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury was connected virtually from prison. Earlier, on September 29, the ACC had applied to the court of Chittagong Metropolitan Special Judge (Acting) Md. Abdur Rahman to show his arrest in the case of suspicious transactions of Tk 108 crore 64 lakh 85 thousand 790 and illegal assets of Tk 5 crore 94 lakh 92 thousand 772.

The case was filed by Deputy Assistant Director of the Head Office Md. Nizam Uddin at the ACC's Chittagong Integrated District Office-1 on July 13.

ACC Public Prosecutor Muhammad Kabir Hossain confirmed the arrest to BanglaNews.

The case statement states that suspicious transactions worth Tk 108 crore 64 lakh 85 thousand 790 were found against ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury in 12 bank accounts. Out of this, Tk 54 crore 39 lakh 13 thousand 72 were deposited and Tk 54 crore 25 lakh 72 thousand 718 were withdrawn. These unusual transactions were made in 12 bank accounts with the aim of concealing or hiding the illegal source of wealth acquired through corruption and bribery.

Through this, ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury committed a punishable offense under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. During the investigation into the irregularities and corruption of ABM Fazle Karim Chowdhury, information was found that he had acquired assets worth Tk 24 crore 8 lakh 30 thousand 232. In reviewing the income tax documents, the ACC found Fazle Karim's legal and acceptable income of Tk 18 crore 13 lakh 37 thousand 460. The ACC found that his acquired assets were Tk 5 crore 94 lakh 92 thousand 772 more than the legal assets paid for income tax, which he is illegally acquiring and occupying by abusing his power. Fazle Karim Chowdhury has been charged with committing a punishable offense under Section 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act of 2004 and Sections 4(2) and 4(3) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act of 1947.

On September 12, 2024, ABM Fazle Karim was arrested by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) from Gazir Bazar in Akhaura, Brahmanbaria while trying to illegally flee to India. Later, on the afternoon of September 19, he was brought from Brahmanbaria Jail to Chittagong Central Jail in a helicopter.