Trial begins in corruption case against Tofail Ahmed and two others

PNN News Desk. Dhaka
A court has framed charges against former Industries Minister and Awami League leader Tofail Ahmed and two others in a corruption case, formally beginning the trial process of the long-pending case.

On Thursday afternoon, Judge Begum Shamima Afroze of the Dhaka Divisional Special Judge Court rejected the accused’s petitions for acquittal and ordered framing of charges. The next hearing for witness testimony has been set for June 22.

Court sources said the other two accused are Mohammad Anwarul Islam, chief accountant of Madonna Advertising Limited, and Mosharaf Hossain from Bhola. Mosharaf Hossain was present in court.

Lawyer for Tofail Ahmed, Md. Khair Uddin Shikder, confirmed the matter.

According to case documents, the case was filed in 2002 by inspector Kazi Shamsul Islam of the then Bureau of Anti-Corruption. It alleges that, abusing power, Tk 12.5 million was transferred and withdrawn through associates to conceal illegally earned money.

The complaint states that the money was transferred from Sonali Bank’s Motijheel Corporate Branch on different occasions and later withdrawn with intent of embezzlement.

After investigation, a charge sheet was filed against the three individuals. However, the case was stayed for a long time following High Court orders after the Awami League came to power.

Later, after August 5, 2024, the court suo motu revived the case and sent it back to the lower court for proceedings. After that, hearings resumed.

With this order, the widely discussed corruption case is now formally entering the witness testimony stage.