SC asks MP Shawkat to pay back Tk 5cr

MNA National Desk: The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court (SC) on Monday directed Jatiya Party lawmaker Shawkat Chowdhury to pay Tk 5 crore to Bangladesh Commerce Bank Ltd (BCBL) within 60 days in connection with two loan scam cases.

A five-member bench of the Appellate Division led by acting Chief Justice Abdul Wahhab Miah issued the order.

If Shawkat does not pay the amount within 60 days after receiving the order, his bail in the relevant loan scam cases will be cancelled.

Earlier on October 22, the HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim and Justice Shahidul Karim directed MP Shawkat to pay Tk 25 crore to BCBL within 50 days in connection with the cases.

Chowdhury stands accused of amassing over Tk 942 million in loans from the Bangladesh Commerce Bank. In May 2016, the ACC filed two cases with Dhaka’s Bangshal police against Chowdhury and eight others.

Chowdhury took the money from the bank’s Bangshal branch by opening letters of credit for imports by his three companies, according to the case documents.

The bank’s then managing director Asaduzzaman and then Bangshal branch manager Habibul Gani are accused of abetting.

Commerce Bank counsel Sarwar Hossain claimed Chowdhury now owes the bank Tk 1.34 billion, including interest for the loans.