Ex-Jubo League leader Samrat gets bail in graft case

A Dhaka court on Wednesday granted bail to Ex-Jubo League leader Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat in a graft case, paving the way for his release from judicial custody. Judge Al Asad Md Asifuzzaman of Dhaka Special Judge Court-6 passed the order.

Earlier, the same court turned down his bail plea in the corruption case, filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), twice -- on April 28 and April 13.

Samrat has already secured bail in three other cases. So, there is no legal bar for Samrat’s release now. Samrat secured bail in a drugs case on April 11 and in an Arms Act case and a money laundering case on April 10.

The expelled Jubo League leader has been undergoing treatment at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital since November 24 last year.

On October 6 in 2019, Rab detained Samrat and his associate Enamul Haque Arman from Chauddagram in Cumilla. Rab raided his Kakrail office later that day. Huge quantities of foreign liquor, pistols, and two hides of kangaroo were seized from his office.

He was later sentenced by a mobile court to six months in prison under the Wildlife Conservation Act.

On October 7, Abdul Khaleque, deputy assistant director of Rab-1 lodged two complaints against Samrat at Ramna police station under the Arms and the Narcotics Act. Arman was also made an accused in the narcotics case.

On November 4, Shekhar Chandra Mallik, a sub-inspector, submitted a chargesheet against Samrat in the Arms Act case.

On November 12, ACC lodged a complaint against him for acquiring assets worth Tk 2.94 crore beyond his known sources of income, reports UNB.

On September 12, 2020, Rashedur Rahman, sub-inspector of CID, registered a case against him at the Ramna police station for laundering Tk 195 crore to Malaysia and Singapore.

Lastly, on November 26 last year, the investigating officer in the case, Jahangir Alam, submitted a chargesheet in the court.