Former Janata Bank Chairman Abul Barkat Arrested

Economist Professor Dr. Abul Barkat, former chairman of Janata Bank, has been arrested. Mohammad Nasirul Islam, Joint Commissioner (South) of the Detective Branch (DB), confirmed the matter.

Dhaka Metropolitan Detective (DB) Police arrested him from the Dhanmondi area of the capital on Thursday night (July 10).

DB Joint Commissioner (South) Mohammad Nasirul Islam said a DB team arrested him during a raid in the Dhanmondi area of the capital in connection with a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). He also stated that Barkat would be handed over to the ACC on Friday (July 11).

Earlier, on February 20, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against 23 people, including former Janata Bank Chairman Abul Barkat, on charges of embezzling BDT 297 crore through loan fraud involving AnonTex at Janata Bank.

Abul Barkat was appointed chairman of Janata Bank on September 9, 2009, after the Awami League government came to power. This former chairman of the Economics Department of Dhaka University served in the position for five years until September 8, 2014.