Overview

• The Detective Branch raided Barkat’s Dhanmondi home late on July 9, arrested him without presenting a warrant, and plans to hand him over to the Anti-Corruption Commission for formal questioning.
• The ACC case, filed in February, alleges Barkat approved fraudulent loans to 22 AnonTex Group companies through forgery while chairing state-owned Janata Bank from 2009 to 2014.
• Barkat is a veteran University of Dhaka economics professor and former president of the Bangladesh Economic Association who has advocated for minority rights and warned of a Hindu exodus.
• Civil society and minority organizations have condemned the arrest as an effort to silence a prominent critic and undermine judicial independence under the interim government.
• Barkat’s family and legal team have criticized the lack of prior investigation and demanded adherence to due-process safeguards as he faces continued ACC inquiry.