Former Janata Bank Chairman Abul Barkat arrested

Abul Barkat, former chairman of Janata Bank, was arrested by Dhaka Metropolitan Detective Police (DB) from the capital’s Dhanmondi area late Thursday night.

He was detained around 11:30 pm during a raid based on a tip-off, confirmed DB Joint Commissioner Mohammad Nasirul Islam to reporters.

"Dr Barkat has been arrested on the basis of an ongoing case filed with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). He is being taken to the DB office on Minto Road," he said.

Barkat, who formerly headed the Economics Department at the University of Dhaka, was a prominent intellectual supporter of the ousted Sheikh Hasina regime.

He was known for defending the government’s controversial policies and held influence in several state-linked institutions during that time.

As Janata Bank chairman, his tenure drew criticism over his alleged role in facilitating large-scale loan irregularities and financial scams—issues that were widely linked to crony networks operating under political protection.

He also holds the position of honorary chief adviser at the Human Development Research Centre (HDRC), a private research institute.