5 including ex-DC, Judge faces arrest warrant over embezzlement case

A court has issued arrest warrants for five individuals, including former Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ruhul Amin and former District and Sessions Judge Sadiqul Islam Talukdar, in connection with the embezzlement of Tk 20 crore.

Judge Munshi Abdul Majid of the Cox's Bazar Senior Special Judge's Court issued the order last Thursday, according to a BSS report published on Saturday (January 25).

The other accused in the case include lawyer Mostaq Ahmad Chowdhury from the Cox's Bazar District and Sessions Judge's Court, Swapan Kanti Pal, high clerk of the Deputy Commissioner's Office, and Zafar Ahmad, a stenographer at the District and Sessions Judge's Court.

Public Prosecutor Siraj Ullah confirmed the court's decision, stating, "The warrants were issued following a report by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)."

According to the case source, the case stems from the acquisition of 1,414 acres of land for a thermal power plant in Matarbari, Maheshkhali, on November 19, 2014. A total of Tk 237 crore was allocated for compensation related to shrimp enclosures, houses, and other infrastructure, with Tk 46 crore designated for the shrimp enclosures. The investigation revealed that Tk 1.98 crore was withdrawn and embezzled by falsely listing 25 non-existent shrimp enclosures.