Dhaka, Aug 19 – The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday arrested the landowner of Banani’s FR Tower in a case over design forgery charges of the building which caught fire on March 27.A team of the anti-corruption watchdog arrested Faruk at noon from Gulshan-2 area.
His arrest came a day after the ACC arrested Tasvir Ul Islam, another owner of the FR Tower, in the same case.
Around 25 people were killed and 73 others injured in the massive fire that broke out in the FR Tower on March 27.
Meanwhile, a Dhaka court yesterday granted ad-interim bail to Tasvir Ul Islam, one of the owners of FR Tower, in connection with a case filed over his alleged involvement in illegally extending the building and create fake design of the building.
He secured bail a day after he was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in connection with the case.
Judge KM Emrul Kayes of Senior Special Judge’s Court of Dhaka granted Tasvir bail till August 29 considering his health condition and old age.
Earlier on March 31, SMHI Faruque, the land owner of FR Tower, and Tasvir were both arrested and placed on seven-day remand each. The two were later released on bail.
Earlier on June 25, ACC filed two cases against 23 people, including FR Tower owners and two chairmen of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), for their alleged involvement in illegally extending Banani’s FR Tower beyond the permitted number of floors.
On July 30, ACC arrested Rajuk Assistant Director Shah Md Badrul Alam in the case.
BNP leader Tasvir and Rupayan Group Chairman Liaquat Ali Khan Mukul were named in the cases altogether.
Multiple inquiries were open to probe the incident and determine the ones responsible for the design malpractice that ended up killing and injuring so many.
According to Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), the FR Tower did not have permission for its top four floors and there was no fire-protected staircase in the 22-storey building that housed dozens of offices.
Multiple inquiries were opened to probe the incident and determine the ones responsible for the design malpractice that resulted in the fire tragedy. On July 30, the ACC arrested Rajuk assistant director Shah Md Badrul Alam in the same case. – Staff Reporter
