The High Court on Wednesday issued a rule asking the authorities concerned to explain in 10 days as to why they should not be directed to take appropriate legal action against National Bank Limited and its board of directors for their alleged involvement with corruption and laundering money by issuing a letter of credit (LC) in the name of dummy organisations.
Officials concerned with the government; Bangladesh Bank and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) have been made respondents to the rule.
The HC also asked the managing director of the National Bank to submit relevant documents regarding the alleged LC issued by the bank in the names of Santana Enterprise and Inter-Asia Group PTE Ltd for importing products from abroad before this court in 60 days.
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat issued the rule and order following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Chowdhury Hasan Mahmud Abdullah seeking necessary directives on this issue.
Writ petitioner’s lawyer Md Munsurul Hoque Chowdhury said that National Bank’s board of directors and their family members have reportedly laundered money and committed corruption by misusing their positions and powers; and used dummy organisations Santana Enterprise and Inter-Asia Group PTE Ltd for issuing LC in the name of importing products from Singapore.
Lawyer Shah Monjurul Hoque appeared for National Ban, while Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state during hearing of the petition.
