A Dhaka court today sent former vice chancellor of Begum Rokeya University, Professor Dr Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah, to jail in a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over alleged embezzlement of funds from the university’s development project.

Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Sabbir Faiz passed the order after police produced Kalimullah before the court at the end of his five-day remand and sought to keep him detained until the investigation is completed.

Earlier on August 27, the court had placed him on a five-day remand in the same case.

The ACC filed the case on July 18 against five individuals, including two former vice chancellors of Begum Rokeya University — Professor Dr. AKM Nur-un-Nabi and Professor Dr. Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah. The other accused are former executive engineer Md Jahangir Alam and contractors Md A. Salam Bacchu and M.M. Habibur Rahman.

According to the case documents, the accused allegedly tampered with the design of the university’s development project, disregarded the approved Development Project Proposal (DPP), and signed a deal worth over Tk 30 crore without the approval of the ministry or relevant authorities.

They are also accused of facilitating the embezzlement of Tk 4 crore, taken as a security deposit from the contractor, approving irregular advance payments, and unlawfully appointing a second consulting firm in violation of procurement rules.

Meanwhile, the same court earlier in the day imposed a travel ban on all five accused, granting a plea from the ACC.

Kalimullah was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of police on August 7 from his Mohammadpur residence.

MN/