Dhaka, Feb 17 (bdnews24.com) - Charges have been framed against 25 people including former public works minister Mirza Abbas for allegedly selling 18 government houses in a fake auction for Tk 128 crore lower than the market price.
Others charged in the case include former commerce minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, former prime minister Khaleda Zia's political secretary Harris Chowdhury and Basundhara Group chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan popularly known as Shah Alam.
According to the case details, Mirza Abbas with other former and serving Rajuk officials sold 18 abandoned government houses located in Dhanmondi, Gulshan, Banani and New Eskaton through fake auctions.
The houses were allegedly sold for much less than their market value, which resulted in a loss to the state of Tk 127.64 crore.
Fifteen different charge sheets have been framed against the 25 accused, and 40 people have been listed as witnesses for the state.
Judge Shahed Nuruddin of Special Judge's Court-3 framed the charges and said evidence in the case be taken from Feb 24.
Thirteen of the accused, including Mirza Abbas, are now in jail.
State counsel Md Khurshid Alam told bdnews24.com that Orion Group chairman Obaidul Karim's son-in-law Mehedi Hasan has remained untraced since he received bail from the High Court.
The ACC filed the graft case with Motijheel Police Station on March 29 last year.
Others accused in the case are : former director of Uttara residential project Kazi Reazul Monir, former RAJUK superintending engineer Mohammad Ali, former director (finance) of RAJUK Humayun Khan, former Housing and Public works secretary SM Zafarullah, former director of RAJUK Golam Nabi, former secretary of RAJUK Mir Mosharraf Hossain and Shahid Alam, former engineer of RAJUK Emdadul Islam, director of Purbachal project Abdus Sadek, superintending engineer of the Public Works Maintenance Circle Ziauddin Ahmed, former chairman of RAJUK Iqbaluddin Chowdhury, chairman of M&N Company Neo J Mendes, former police super Kazi Md Anwar HOssain, managing director of Ambia Group Abul Kashem, Orion Group chairman Obaidul Karim's son-in-law Mehedi Hasan, Metco Enterprise chairman and former lawmaker Shafiqur Rahman Kiron, Electro Mart owner Nurus Safa, Cocola Food proudcts managing director Sukkur Miah, Antex Industries vicve chairman Hasna Ahmed, former secretary of BAIRA Ali Haider Chowdhury and chairman of Advance Technology and Development SM Anwar Hossain.
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