DGHS driver on 14-day remand for possessing illegal firearm, fake notes

A Dhaka court today placed Abdul Malek, a driver of the Directorate General of Health Service (DGHS), on a 14-day remand in two separate cases filed on charges of possessing an illegal firearm and trading fake currencies.

Metropolitan Magistrate Md Shahidul Islam passed the order after Sub-Inspector Md Rubel Sheikh of Turag Police Station and also investigation officer of the case produced him before the court with a 14-day remand prayer.

In the prayers, the IO said the accused was directly involved in possessing firearms and fake currencies. So, he needs to be remanded to find the reason behind this, the IO added.

Defence, however, submitted two separate petitions seeking bail along with cancellation of the remand prayers.

After hearing both sides, the magistrate rejected his bail petitions and issued the remand order.

On Sunday, members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) arrested Malek from Kamarpar area under Turag police station in Dhaka.

Malek possessed more than Tk 100 crore in wealth, claimed Lt Col Ashique Billah, director of Rab's legal and media wing.

Rab primarily assumed that Abdul Malek made the wealth by maintaining good relations with DGHS' high-ranking officials.

Answering a query, Rab official Ashique said, Malek made his wealth by transferring employees of different departments after lobbying with DGHS' top officials.

On information that Malek was staying at Kamarpara area, a team of Rab conducted a drive there and arrested him and seized a foreign pistol, a magazine, five rounds of bullets, Tk 1.5 lakh in fake currency, a laptop and a mobile from his possession.

Later two cases, one for possessing arms and ammunition and the other for possessing fake currencies, were filed against him with Turag Police Station.