The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

A special court Sunday again sentenced ex-prime minister Khaleda Zia's assignment officer Dr Firoz Mahmud Iqbal to five years' rigorous imprisonment in a graft case.

Passing the sentence Judge M Ashraf Hossain also fined the fugitive convict to pay Tk 36.05 lakh or serve one year more in jail.

Trying in absentia, the court found Firoz guilty of availing government transport for personal use by "abusing his official power" in the name of Prime Minister's office.

Earlier on May 13, another special court dealing with corruption cases in the interim period sentenced Firoz to 10 years' imprisonment for amassing wealth illegally. The court had also sentenced his wife Imtiaz Begum, who is also on the run, to three years' imprisonment for abetting him in accumulating wealth illegally.

An Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) source said Firoz, who faces a number of cases in the changed situation, had become one of the most controversial figures during the rule of the BNP-led coalition by influencing postings and transfers of government officials and employees, including police officials.

Thus he "accumulated huge wealth". ACC Public Prosecutor AFM Golam Fattah conducted the case.