A Chattogram financial loan court has issued arrest warrants against Aslam Chowdhury, a central executive committee member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and his wife Nazneen Maola Chowdhury, in connection with a large-scale loan default case.

On Tuesday, 19 August, Judge Md Helal Uddin of Chattogram Financial Loan Court-1 passed the order following a hearing.

Background of the Case

According to court sources, the warrants were issued after the couple failed to repay loans taken from the Pahartali branch of Standard Bank.

• The bank had attempted to recover its funds by auctioning mortgaged assets, but the effort failed due to the absence of buyers.
• Following the bank’s petition, the court directed legal measures against the couple.
• The defaulted loan amounts to BDT 260.77 crore (2,607,779,000 Taka).

Loan Default Details

Political and Legal History of Aslam Chowdhury

Aslam Chowdhury has faced multiple legal battles over the years:

• Total Cases Filed: 76 cases at different times.
• 2016 Arrest: Detained on 15 May 2016 from Dhaka’s Khilkhet area.
• Remand: Placed under police remand the following day under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
• Sedition Case: On 26 May 2016, with approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Gulshan police filed a sedition case against him.

Allegations in Sedition Case

• Accused of conspiring to overthrow the government.
• Allegedly collaborated with an agent of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad in the plot.

Release After Government Change

• Following the July uprising of last year and the subsequent fall of the Awami League government, Aslam Chowdhury was released on bail.

Takeaways

• Arrest warrants issued against BNP leader Aslam Chowdhury and his wife over BDT 260 crore loan default.
• Court acted after failed auction of mortgaged assets.
• Aslam has a long legal history, including a sedition case linked to alleged ties with Mossad.
• Released on bail after the fall of the Awami League government in July last year.