TDS Desk:

A Dhaka court on Monday ordered for further investigation into 17 corruption cases filed over the BASIC Bank loan scams against its former chairman Sheikh Abdul Hye Bacchu and others.

Judge Abul Kashem of Dhaka Special Judge’s Court-1 issued the order after identifying “flaws”in the investigation of the cases, said ACC Public Prosecutor Mir Ahmed Ali Salam.

The judge also said on Monday order for further investigation would be effective on 41 other cases relating to BASIC Bank loan scams pending with the court for their disposal.

Meantime, ACC Deputy Director Mohammad Ibrahim, who pressed charges against former BASIC Bank Chairman Bacchu and 46 others in 17 cases, explained why he did not include names of board of directors of the bank.

On January 2, the same court summoned three investigation officers of 20 corruption cases filed over the loan scams, seeking explanations as to whether the board of directors of the bank were involved.

The officers summoned are ACC Director Mohammad Morshed Alam, and Deputy Directors Mohammad Ibrahim and Md Sirajul Haque, who investigated the cases and submitted charge sheets.

Mohammad Ibrahim, who pressed charges against former BASIC Bank Chairman Sheikh Abdul Hye Bacchu and 46 others in 17 cases, was ordered to appear before the court on Monday.

Mohammad Morshed Alam, who investigated two cases, and Mohammad Sirajul Haque, who investigated another case and submitted a charge sheet against Bacchu, was also asked to appear on February 5.

Five investigation officers, including the three summoned on that date, have investigated all 59 graft cases and submitted charge sheets against Bacchu and others.

On June 12, 2023, the ACC submitted charge sheets against Bacchu and 146 others for embezzling Tk 2,265 crore. However, the commission did not implicate the then-board members, who were in charge of the bank when the massive embezzlement occurred between 2009 and 2013.

During this period, Tk 4,500 crore was swindled from BASIC, with more than 95 percent of the loans sanctioned by the board.

In 2015, the ACC filed 56 cases related to the scam, but neither Bacchu nor any of the board members were named as accused, despite multiple investigations indicating their involvement. Later, four additional cases were filed.