BNP leader Khoka, three others get 10-year jail in graft case


FE Team | Published: November 28, 2018 12:30:28 | Updated: December 07, 2018 17:50:37


Former mayor of undivided Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) and BNP leader Sadek Hossain Khoka seen in this file photo — Collected

A Dhaka court has sentenced four people including former mayor of undivided Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) and BNP leader Sadek Hossain Khoka to ten years imprisonment in a case filed for alleged corruption in leasing a multi-storey car parking in the city's Banani area.

Dhaka divisional special Judge Mizanur Rahman Khan passed the order on Wednesday following a hearing on the case.

The three others convicts are DCC Unique Complex Shop Owners' Association president Abdul Baten Nakib, its general secretary Mahmud Hasan Azad, and car parking manager HM Tarek.

The court also fined Tk 2 million (20 lakh) to Khoka while 1 million (10 lakh) each to the other convicts, according to a UNB report.

Earlier on November 29 2015, a court framed charges against the BNP leader and three others in the case.

On June 24 2015, a lower court issued a warrant for the arrest of BNP leader Khoka as he did not appear before it during hearing on the day.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) deputy director Nur Hossain, also investigation officer of the case, submitted a charge-sheet against the four accused on November 11 in 2012.

On February 15 2012, ACC assistant director M Mahbubul Alam filed the case with Shahbagh Police Station on charge of misappropriating Tk 3.08 million  (Tk 30.82 lakh) from the car parking project.

According to the prosecution, Dhaka City Corporation invited a tender in 2003 to lease out Banani Unique Complex's basement as car parking.

The DCC had been deprived of over Tk 3.08 million from February, 2003 to February 2011 as then mayor Khoka in connivance with other accused stayed the tender process.

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