Purbachal plot scam: BTMA president, Partex MD sentenced to 14 yrs

A Dhaka special court yesterday sentenced Amber Group Chairman Showkat Aziz Russell, Partex Group Managing Director Ashfaq Aziz Rubel and six former Rajuk officials to 14 years’ imprisonment each in a corruption case filed over allocating plots in the Purbachal Residential Project.

Judge Md Abdus Salam of the Special Judge Court-9 delivered the verdict in their absence in the courtroom, said a court employee.

The court also issued conviction warrants as all eight were absent during the verdict, he added.

According to the judgments, Russell and Rubel were sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment and fined Tk 10 lakh each for their abetment of criminal misconduct. They were also convicted for seven years and fined Tk 10 lakh each for abetting criminal breach of trust.

The six former Rajuk officials include former Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) chairman Iqbal Uddin Choudhury and former members: SD Foyej, AKM Wahedul Islam, SM Jafar Ullah, HM Jahurul Haque and Rezaul Karim Tarafdar.

All six were sentenced to seven years in jail and fined Tk 10 lakh each for criminal misconduct. Each of them was also convicted for seven years and fined Tk 10 lakh for criminal breach of trust.

The verdict said each of the eight accused would have to serve an additional year in prison for each Tk 10 lakh fine in default of payment.

“The sentence will run concurrently,” the verdict also read.

The period the accused had already spent in custody would be deducted from their sentences, it added.

According to the verdict, the court ordered the cancellation of the plot allotments to Rubel and Russell, sons of Partex Group founder MA Hashem, and the plots confiscated in favour of the state.

According to the case documents, Rubel and Russell, also the president of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, deposited Tk 1.5 lakh each as security for a 10 katha plot each.

As they were not allotted plots in the first phase, they withdrew their deposits in December 2003, rendering their applications paid off and cancelled. They did not apply again.

However, in June 2004, Rajuk allotted the two plots, measuring 10 kathas each and totalling 20 kathas, against the cancelled applications without any recommendation from the selection committee.

To favour the applicants, the board meeting unlawfully decided that the plots could be allotted if the applicants repaid the withdrawn deposits along with 17 percent interest.

The move amounted to an abuse of power and deprived eligible applicants of their rightful opportunities.

On February 8, 2017, Sylvia Ferdous, assistant director of the Anti-Corruption Commission, filed the case with Motijheel Police Station. Then on September 4, 2018, ACC Deputy Director Mirza Zahidul Alam submitted a charge sheet in the case.

On August 26, 2019, the court framed charges against the eight accused.

During the trial, nine witnesses testified.

“I have been targeted as I criticised different activities of the immediate past government,” Russell told The Daily Star last night.

He said when he was given the plot as there were fewer applications against many number of plots, he said, adding that the value of the plot was less when he bought it.

“Its price has increased now,” he said, adding that he will appoint a lawyer soon to seek bail from court.

Rubel could not be reached for comment about the verdict.