Ex-MP Masud now shown arrested in graft case

A Dhaka court on Monday ordered former Feni-3 lawmaker and retired lieutenant general Masud Uddin Chowdhury to be shown arrested in a corruption case filed over alleged embezzlement of Tk 119 crore through irregularities in sending workers to Malaysia.

Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Faiz passed the order after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) submitted a petition seeking to have him arrested in the case.

According to court sources, ACC Assistant Director Md Abul Kalam Azad, also the investigation officer of the case, filed the application on March 25.

ACC Prosecutor Delwar Jahan Rumi confirmed the matter.

According to the case statement, Masud Uddin Chowdhury and others allegedly abused power and acted as recruitment agents in the labour market for Malaysia. Although the government-fixed migration cost was Tk 78,990, the accused allegedly collected additional illegal fees from workers through different stages.

ACC alleged that around Tk 119.3 crore was embezzled from 7,124 workers in the name of passports, medical tests and other services.

The petition further stated that the accused laundered the illegally obtained money through concealment, transfer and conversion of assets, violating the Penal Code, the Money Laundering Prevention Act and the Anti-Corruption Commission Act.

ACC also told the court that if granted bail, the accused could influence the investigation and obstruct judicial proceedings.

Masud Uddin Chowdhury was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) from his Baridhara DOHS residence on the night of March 23.

He has since been shown arrested and remanded in several cases, including those linked to killings during the anti-discrimination student movement.

AM