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Published : 18 Aug 2025, 02:34 AM
A total of 122 prominent citizens have demanded that the court immediately bail former Janata Bank chairman Abul Barkat, who was arrested last month on corruption charges.
The demand was made in a joint statement issued on Sunday, highlighting “absence of clear evidence” and Barkat’s health issues.
Notable among those issuing the statement are: Emeritus Professor Serajul Islam Choudhury, human rights activist Hameeda Hossain, lawyer Sultana Kamal, coordinator of the ‘Nijera Kori’ organisation Khushi Kabir, Executive Director of the Manusher Jonno Foundation Shaheen Anam, Senior Supreme Court lawyer ZI Khan Panna, and retired Dhaka University professor MM Akash.
“Prof Barkat has been arrested over a corruption allegation,” the statement said. “Yet, despite the absence of clear evidence, the court has refused him bail.”
Signed by Shamsul Huda, executive director of the Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD), the statement read: “He has previously been hospitalised twice due to pneumonia. We are deeply concerned about his health and medical care. For these humanitarian reasons, we call for his immediate release on bail,” it said.
The statement underlined Barakat’s heart complications, post-stroke difficulties, lung problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, and diabetic neuropathy requiring physiotherapy five days a week.
The signatories described him as a man of simple and honest living, pointing out that he previously served as both general secretary and president of the Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA).
“Arresting and sending him to jail before the trial begins is unacceptable to us,” he said.
Barkat, a professor at Dhaka University, was appointed chairman of the state-owned Janata Bank on Sept 9, 2009 for a three-year term.
He was reappointed and served a total of five years, stepping down in September 2014.
According to media reports in February 2016, the late finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said Barkat had left Janata Bank, once one of the best banks, in ruins.
In the reports, he was quoted as saying Barkat was prone to disbursing “anonymous loans”.
On Feb 25 this year, the Anti-Corruption Commission initiated a case against him and others, accusing them of misappropriating Tk 2.97 billion in loan funds disbursed to AnonTex Group.
