Ex-MP Poton gets bail in embezzlement case

A Dhaka court has granted bail to former lawmaker Kamrul Ashraf Khan Poton of Narsingdi-2 and four others in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for allegedly embezzling fertilizer worth around Tk 581 crore.

A court of Dhaka First Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge Foysal Atiq Bin Kader passed the order on Wednesday, granting them bail till January 15, as the accused surrendered before the court and filed the bail plea.

The other four accused are- Poton Traders, a contracting firm owned by Kamrul Ashraf Khan Poton, general manager Md Shahadat Hossain Nipu, Nazmul Alam Badal, its North Bengal representative Sohrab Hossain and Khulna representative Md Ataur Rahman.

ACC deputy director Md Rafikuzzaman filed the case on November 26 against them for embezzling the fertilizer imported by the government from November 1, 2021, to July 30, 2022.

Poton Traders was assigned to carry the fertilizer to the warehouses from the port within 50 days of releasing it from there. But it allegedly embezzled around 72,000 tonnes of imported chemical fertiliser.

/KN/