Mizanur Rahman. Photo: Collected

A Dhaka court took cognizance of charges against Mizanur Rahman, suspended deputy inspector general of police, and Khandaker Enamul Basir, suspended director of Anti-Corruption Commission, in a bribery case.

Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of Senior Special Judge’s Court in Dhaka passed the order in presence of the two accused.

He also transferred the case to Special Judge Court-4 of Dhaka for trial and fixed March 3 to start hearing on charge framing against the accused.

On January 15, the ACC submitted a charge sheet against them for their alleged involvement in taking and giving Tk 40 lakh bribe.

The anti-graft body filed the graft case against the two for a transaction of Tk 40 lakh as bribe on July 16 last year.

According to the prosecution, the ACC in May last year launched an enquiry into alleged accumulation of illegal wealth by Mizan, who came into the spotlight after a marital scandal. 

He was later withdrawn as additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

The commission assigned Basir to carry out the enquiry. Basir took Tk 40 lakh bribe from Mizan in two instalments -- on January 15 and February 25 last year -- with promises of exonerating Mizan of the charges.

Mizan told media that Basir took bribe from him. He produced audio clips of conversation between them.

Basir was arrested in the capital’s Mirpur area on July 22 last year.  

Meanwhile, the same court yesterday accepted charges against DIG Mizan, his wife Sohelia Anar Ratna, and two sub-inspectors of Dhaka’s Kotwali Police Station Mahbubur Rahman and Mahmudul Hasan, also Mizan’s nephew, in another corruption case.

The court issued arrest warrants against Sohelia and Mahbub as they have been shown fugitives in the charge sheet.

Police have been asked to submit a report on the execution of the arrest warrants on March 3.

On June 24 last year, the ACC lodged the case with its Integrated District Office in Dhaka against Mizan, his wife, and nephew on charges of amassing over Tk 3 crore beyond known sources of income.

Following the case, Mizan surrendered before the High Court on July 2 and sought bail. After the hearing, the HC handed Mizan over to the police and also asked DMP to produce him before the court within 24 hours.

On January 30, ACC Director Monjur Morshed, also investigation officer of the case, submitted a charge sheet against Mizan, Sohelia, Mahmud, and Mahbub.