DHAKA, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS) - The ACC today filed seven cases against 38 people on charges of embezzling Taka 470 million in the name of loans by using seven fake business entities from various branches of the United Commercial Bank (UCB) in Chattogram. Director General of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Md. Akhtar Hossain disclosed the information to the journalists during its regular media briefing at the commission headquarters here.  The cases were filed with the ACC’s Chattogram-1 Integrated District Office, the ACC Director General added. According to the case statements, former directors of the bank, senior officials and employees formed a syndicate and by posing ordinary people including farmers, day laborers, tailors and salesmen as businessmen, opened current accounts in their names and embezzled and laundered the huge sums in guise of loans. The allegations stated that a total of Taka 467.38 million was embezzled through fake establishments and in connivance with each other from different branches of the UCB. As per the allegations, Taka 75 million was embezzled from the Chawkbazar branch in the name of Hoson Trading, Taka 69.95 million in the name of Karnaphuli Emporium and Taka 75 million in the name of Zahir International. From the Port branch, Taka 69.93 million was embezzled in the name of Cats Eye Corporation. Similarly, Taka 57.5 million was embezzled from the Pahartali branch in the name of Shah Trading and Taka 60 million in the name of Harun & Sons. In addition, taka another 60 million was embezzled from the Bahaddarhat branch in the name of Mallik & Brothers. The prominent accused are former UCB director and Executive Committee (EC) Chairman Anisuzzaman Chowdhury (Rony), brother of former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, former directors Asifuzzaman Chowdhury, Bashir Ahmed and Haji Yunus Ahmed;and Bazlul Ahmed Babul. The other accused of the case are Md. Mabdul Hamid Chowdhury, Vice Principal and former branch manager of the Chawkbazar branch, Prodip Kumar Biswas, proprietor of Alok International and nominal proprietors of the fake entities, including Mohammad Hoson, Mohammad Zahir Uddin and Mizanur Rahman, among others. The accused have been charged under sections 406, 409, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 109 of the Penal Code, as well as section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947 and sections 4(2) and 4(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.

CHATTOGRAM, Jan 12, 2026 (BSS) – The Election Commission ( EC) today upheld the decision to cancel the nomination paper of Dr. A K M Fazlul Haque, Jamaat Islami nominated candidate for Chattogram-9 (Kotwali-Bakolia) constituency, on ground of dual-citizenship.  Returning Officer and Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Dr. Md Ziaudddin declared invalid the candidature of Dr. Fazlul on allegation of having dual citizenship during primary scrutiny on January 4 last.  Ctg-9 (Kotowali-Bakalia) constituency is considered as VIP seat in parliamentary polls.  Dr. Fazlu moved an appeal petition before EC challenging the decision of Returning Officer (RO).  But the EC rejected his appeal petition upholding the decision of RO after hearing held at the EC secretariat with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) A M M Nasir Uddin in the chair.  While talking to the journalists after rejection of his appeal petition, Dr. Fazlul criticized the EC for partisanship and vowed to continue legal battle to regain his candidature.  Dr. Fazlul in his affidavit submitted to RO declared that he had surrendered his US citizenship on December 18 last in favor his eligibility to compete in the upcoming election.  The RO during primary scrutiny cancelled the nomination paper of Jamaat candidate for Ctg-9 constituency on ground of lack of necessary documents in leaving the US citizenship.  The lawyer of Dr. Fazlul Barrister Mohammad Belayet Hossain said he will file appeal before the High Court in favor of his client challenging the judgment of EC.  Barrister Belayet said the appeal petition was filed before EC by fulfilling all legal procedure and placing appropriate arguments as per the Constitution and the RPO but the EC has turned down our legal arguments.