Former state minister Redwan jailed for three years

A court in Dhaka has sentenced Redwan Ahmed, who was a state minister during BNP’s tenure, to three years in jail over money embezzlement.

Dhaka Special Judges Court-2 Judge Md Akhteruzzaman delivered the verdict in the case filed over embezzling money of Tk 5 million.

Redwan Ahmed, who is currently the secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was also fined Tk 5 million in the case.

The court issued an arrest warrant as Redwan Ahmed was absconding at the time of the announcement of the verdict.

A bdnews24.com report says Redwan is also accused in another case of having wealth outside known sources of income.

Another suspect in the case – Shah Alam Chowdhury, the form secretary general of the Central Command Council of the Muktijoddha Sangsad, was acquitted in the case.

The court heard the testimony of 10 of the 15 witnesses.

A state minister during Khaleda Zia’s administration, Redwan is currently the general secretary of the LDP. The court issued an arrest warrant against him.

According to the case documents, the local government ministry sends 4 percent of its earnings, approximately Tk 50 million, from running markets a year to the Muktijoddha Sangsad’s Central Command Council for poor and unemployed veterans of the liberation war. The Mohakhali branch of Sonali Bank maintains the account.

The complaint alleges that in 2002, Redwan and Shah Alam withdrew Tk 5 million from this fund and embezzled it.

Freedom fighter Md Nurul Islam filed a case at Ramna Police Station on Feb 27, 2007 over the incident. On Oct 8 of that year, ACC Assistant Director Md Abul Hossain filed a chargesheet against the two officials.