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TL;DR
- Haji Salim, a former Awami League lawmaker, was detained on September 1, 2024, in Dhaka by the Detective Branch.
- He is accused in several cases, but authorities have not specified which case will lead to his arrest.
- In 2022, Salim was sentenced to 10 years in prison for amassing wealth beyond known sources.
- The Anti-Corruption Commission originally filed charges against him and his wife in 2007 for financial misconduct.
Haji Salim, a former lawmaker of the Awami League from the Dhaka-8 constituency, was detained by the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Sunday, September 1, 2024. The detention took place in Bangshal, Dhaka, following a raid conducted based on a tip-off. DB (North) Joint Commissioner Rabiul Islam Bhuyian confirmed the detention, stating that Salim is accused in several cases, although it remains unclear which specific case will lead to his arrest at this time.
Haji Salim’s legal troubles date back several years. In 2007, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case against him and his wife, Gulshan Ara, for allegedly amassing wealth beyond their known sources and concealing information in their wealth statements. On April 27, 2008, a Dhaka court sentenced Salim to 13 years in prison—10 years for accumulating wealth illegally and an additional three years for concealing information. The court also imposed a fine of Tk10 lakh on him. Despite this, Salim was released on bail after spending a month in jail and was subsequently elected to parliament twice.
The legal proceedings continued over the years. In 2011, the High Court overturned his sentence, but the ACC appealed the decision. The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court later ordered a rehearing of the case. In March 2022, the High Court upheld the lower court’s decision, sentencing Salim to 10 years in prison for acquiring wealth beyond his known sources. On December 6, 2022, the Appellate Division granted him bail, allowing him to appeal against the sentence. Salim was released from jail in January 2023 after spending 10 months behind bars.
Haji Salim’s detention is the latest development in a long-standing legal battle involving corruption charges. The exact reasons for his current detention remain unspecified, but his past convictions and ongoing legal issues suggest a complex legal situation. As of now, the authorities have not disclosed further details regarding the specific charges leading to his detention.
Source: TBS News
