Samrat sued for illegal wealth

Expelled Dhaka South Jubo League president Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat has invested at home and abroad over Tk 1,000 crore in plots, houses, and movie production.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has found the information in Bangladesh Bank documents and other intelligence reports. 

The commission has filed a case against Samrat for amassing wealth worth about Tk 2.95 crore beyond his known sources of income. 

ACC Deputy Director Jahangir Alam filed the case with its integrated district office, Dhaka-1. 

The case statement says Samrat amassed Tk 1.84 crore till 2018-19 fiscal year. The commission did not find any legal source of the amount. 

The ACC also found that he has moveable properties worth Tk 1.11 crore. 

The commission officials said Samrat invested money in the silver-screen. He maintained an account named “His Movies” with the Sonali Bank’s Kakrail branch. 

The anti-graft watchdog also filed a case yesterday against his close aide Enamul Haque Arman for amassing wealth worth Tk 2.05 crore beyond his known sources of income. 

The FIR says Arman also invested a huge amount of money, gathered from illegal casinos, in Desh Bangla Multi-media Production. 

Samrat came under the spotlight after Rapid Action Battalion busted his illegal casino business at different sporting clubs in Dhaka. He was expelled from the Jubo League following his arrest. 

On October 6, Rab members arrested Samrat and his close aide Enamul Haque Arman, former vice-president of the same unit, in Cumilla after raiding a house near Indian border. 

Samrat hailed from an impoverished family of Feni’s Parshuram. Studying up to eighth grade, he became involved in Chhatra League politics in 1990. During the BNP-led four-party rule from 1991 to 1996, he joined the Jubo League and was elected organising secretary of its Dhaka city (South) unit.

FEROZ CHARGED

Rab yesterday pressed charges against Kalabagan Krira Chakra President Shafiqul Alam Feroz in an arms case filed on September 21.

Sub-Inspector Mohammad Jasim Uddin of Rab-2 submitted the charge sheet before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, Dhaka.

Feroz, a former central executive committee member of Krishak League, and his four associates were arrested at the club on September 20 for possessing illegal firearm and drugs. The law enforcers lodged two cases against them with Dhanmondi Police Station the next day.