The former chairman of the bank, Abdul Hai Bachchu, has sought anticipatory bail in the High Court in 58 cases of the state-owned Basic Bank scam.
On Wednesday (August 9), the mastermind of the Basic Bank scam applied for bail in the concerned branch of the High Court. It is scheduled to be heard by a dual bench of the High Court.
Earlier, last Thursday (August 3) the High Court ordered 4 accused to surrender within 6 weeks in 20 cases related to Basic Bank fraud. However, the chamber court stayed their surrender order on Wednesday.
On June 12, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) approved the charge sheet against 147 people, including former chairman Abdul Hai Bachchu, in 59 cases of corruption in Basic Bank including money fraud.
ACC Secretary Mahbub Hossain said that 59 cases were filed for embezzlement of Tk.2265 crore68 lakh 145. The money was embezzled through showing fake loans in the name of many organizations. Five investigating officers submitted investigation reports after investigating the cases. In that context, the commission has approved the filing of charge sheets in the cases.
According to ACC sources, ACC filed 59 consecutive cases on 21, 22 and 23 September 2015 in the Basic Bank scam. A total of 156 people were accused in these cases filed in Motijheel, Paltan and Gulshan police stations. Among the defendants in the case are 26 Basic Bank officials. The remaining 130 accused borrowers are proprietors of 54 institutions and survey institutions.
Among them, the former MD of the bank, Kazi Fakhrul Islam, has been accused in 48 cases. Recently arrested DMD Fazlus Sobhan 47, Kanak Kumar Purkayastha 23, arrested Md. Salim in 8 cases, suspended DMD A Monayem Khan accused in 35 cases.
Meanwhile, various reports of Bangladesh Bank, Ministry of Finance, CAG office and Basic Bank itself have found evidence of the involvement of many people including the former chairman of Basic Bank Abdul Hai Bachchu with this scam.