Staff Correspondent:

A Dhaka court has sentenced expelled Jubo Mohila League leader Shamima Nur Papia to four years in jail in a money laundering case. The court also fined her Tk 500,000, with an additional three months of imprisonment in default of payment.

Judge Md Monjurul Hossain of Dhaka Special Judge Court-8 delivered the verdict on Sunday (May 25). As Papia was absent during the announcement, the court also issued an arrest warrant against her.

However, the court acquitted her husband and three others due to a lack of evidence. The acquitted individuals are Papia’s husband Mofizur Rahman Sumon, and her associates Sabbir Khandakar, Sheikh Taiba Noor, and Zubair Alam.

On February 22, 2020, Papia and three others were arrested by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for allegedly carrying counterfeit currency and laundering illegal money. Authorities recovered seven passports, Tk 212,270 in Bangladeshi currency, Tk 25,600 in counterfeit notes, 310 Indian rupees, 420 Sri Lankan rupees, $11,091, and seven mobile phones from their possession.

The next day, on February 23, a raid was conducted at Papia’s house on Indira Road. During the operation, RAB seized a foreign pistol, two magazines, 20 rounds of bullets, five bottles of foreign liquor, Tk 5,841,000 in cash, five passports, three cheques, various foreign currencies, and 10 ATM cards from different banks.

Following these incidents, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police filed drug and arms cases against Papia and her husband. Additionally, a money laundering case was filed at Gulshan Police Station, and a Special Powers Act case was filed at the Airport Police Station over the counterfeit money. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) also filed a case against her for amassing illegal wealth.

On December 27, 2021, CID Inspector Ibrahim Hossain submitted the charge sheet against five individuals, including Papia, in the money laundering case. The trial began on August 21, 2022.