Highlights:
- Dhaka court bans Sheikh Hasina, Obaidul Quader, and 17 others from leaving the country
- ACC filed the case over CNS Limited’s toll contract
- CNS received 17.75% service charge, bypassing prior tender
- Travel restriction ensures proper investigation and protects evidence
Dhaka Court Orders Travel Ban
A Dhaka court has ordered a travel ban on former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, along with 17 others.
On Sunday, Justice Mohammad Abdullah Al Mamun of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court, during his leave period, issued the order following an application from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The application on behalf of the ACC was filed by the agency’s Assistant Director Tanzil Hasan.
Others who have been barred from leaving the country include former Minister Amir Hossain Amu, Anisul Haque, Tofail Ahmed, Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, State Minister M. A. Mannan, Secretary M. A. N. Siddiq, Additional Secretary Md. Faruq Jalil, Deputy Secretary Mohammad Shafiqul Karim, Engineer Md. Firoz Iqbal, Ibne Alam Hasan, Md. Aftab Hossain Khan, Md. Abdus Salam, and CNS Limited Managing Director Munir Uz Zaman Chowdhury, Director Selina Chowdhury, and Ikram Iqbal.
CNS Toll Collection Case
The FIR and the application state that in 2016, Computer Network Systems Limited (CNS) was entrusted with toll collection through a single-source tender.
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The previous valid tender was canceled, and without consulting any other company, this contract was executed. CNS Limited was given the work order not based on a fixed amount but on 17.75% of the total collected toll as a service charge (excluding VAT and IT).
As a result, the company received bills exceeding Tk 489 crore. In comparison, during 2010–2015, jointly assigning MBEL-ATT Company to collect tolls on the same bridge cost just over Tk 15 crore.
In this matter, on October 12, the ACC filed a case against Sheikh Hasina and 17 others.
It is learned from reliable sources that the named accused may attempt to leave the country. This could hinder the investigation and result in the destruction of crucial evidence.
Therefore, for the proper investigation of this case, it is necessary to restrict them from traveling abroad.
source : somokal
