Dhaka, Jan 15: Mohammad Matiur Rahman, a former member of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), was placed on a three-day remand on Wednesday in connection with an arms case filed with Vatara Police Station.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Nazmin Akhter passed the order after Investigation Officer Md Rubel Mia, a sub-inspector of Vatara Police Station, produced Matiur before the court with a 10-day remand prayer.
Claiming himself innocent, Matiur told the court that he was a victim of the Awami League government and he was harassed by them with different excuses. Moreover, the arms for which this case was filed was licensed. He appealed to the court to grant him bail and reject the remand prayer.
A team of detectives arrested Matiur and his first wife, Laila Kaniz Lucky, from a residence at Dhaka’s Bashundhara Residential Area early today. Police also recovered a shot gun, 24 rounds of bullets, and three mobile phones from their residence.
Meanwhile, Lucky was sent to jail after being produced before a Dhaka court in a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The court fixed January 19 for a hearing on a seven-day remand prayer sought for questioning Laila.
Judge Md Zakir Hossain of Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court passed the order after ACC Assistant Director Md Ismail, also the investigation officer of the case, produced Lucky before it with a seven-day remand prayer.
A case was filed against Laila Kaniz Lucky, former upazila parishad chairman of Narsingdi’s Raipura, on January 12 on charges of acquiring illegal wealth of Tk 13,01,58,106 and concealing information about her assets of Tk 1,53,63,690 to the ACC.
Four other graft cases were also filed against Matiur, Lucky, their son Ahmed Taufiqur Rahman, daughter Farzana Rahman Ipshita, and Matiur’s second wife Shammi Akhter Shewly.
Matiur’s other son, Mushfiqur Rahman alias Ifat, gained widespread attention last year after a viral video showed him purchasing a goat for Tk 15 lakh, sparking public interest in the family’s extravagant lifestyle, including expensive cars, properties, and resorts.
Later on June 23, 2024, the ACC began an investigation against Matiur.
On June 24, the same court issued a travel ban on Matiur and two of his family members in connection with corruption allegations against them.
On June 25, the BFIU ordered the seizure of bank accounts, mobile financial services (MFS) accounts, and stock market beneficial owners (BO) accounts in the names of Matiur and his family members.
Matiur was also removed from the NBR and added to the Internal Revenue Service.
He was removed from the government-nominated director position at state-owned Sonali Bank as well.
On July 11, the court ordered all moveable and immovable properties of Matiur and his family members confiscated in connection with corruption allegations against them.