HC denies bail to Farmers Bank's Sohel Rana

The High Court has denied bail to Sohel Rana, the suspended manager of the Tangail branch of Farmers Bank's, who has been arrested in a money laundering case.

During a virtual hearing on Sunday, the bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder sent Sohel’s bail plea to the regular bench for its hearing, when the courts return to normal operation.

Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan represented the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) during the hearing Sunday, while Advocate Abdul Matin Khasru represented Sohel.

On September 16, 2016, the case was filed at Tangail model police station against four including Sohel, on charges of misappropriating and laundering Tk9.28 crore from the bank, which went through a major scandal few years back and was later rechristened Padma Bank.

Last week, the same High Court bench on June 3 had cancelled a lower court order that granted bail to Rashedul Haque Chisty, son of Mahbubul Haque Chisty who was former chairman of the audit committee of Farmers Bank, in a corruption case.

Rashedul was granted bail by the Tangail District and Session Judge Court on May 27.

All courts around the country have been holding virtual hearings from May 11 amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which had forced the government to shut down offices, businesses and public transport.

All restrictions were relaxed recently.