A Dhaka court has sentenced Shamima Nur Papia, expelled leader of Jubo Mohila League, to four years’ imprisonment in a money laundering case filed with Gulshan Police Station.
Judge Md Manjurul Hossain of Dhaka Special Judge Court-8 delivered the verdict on Sunday. The court acquitted Papia’s husband Mofijur Rahman alias Sumon Chowdhury and three others – Sabbir Khondokar, Sheikh Tayeba Noor, and Zubayer Alam – as charges against them could not be proved.
Papia’s lawyer Shakawat Ullah Bhuiyan said his client received an additional Tk5 lakh fine, with three months’ imprisonment if unpaid. This marks the second verdict against Papia in related cases.
Papia’s lawyer sought adjournment (due to Papia’s illness) which the court rejected. While Zubayer remains a fugitive, the other three accused appeared on bail. Court Bench Assistant Fozlur Rahman confirmed Papia’s bail cancellation and issuance of arrest warrants.
However, her lawyer stated that Papia has received bail from higher courts.
The case stems from RAB’s February 22, 2020, arrest of Papia and four others at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport for allegedly smuggling counterfeit currency. Authorities recovered seven passports, Tk2.12 lakh, $11,091, and other foreign currencies during the operation.
A subsequent raid at Papia’s Indira Road residence yielded a foreign pistol, ammunition, liquor bottles, Tk58.41 lakh, five passports, and multiple ATM cards.
Separate cases were filed under narcotics, arms, money laundering, and ACC laws. After CID submitted charges on December 27, 2021, the court framed charges on August 21, 2022, recording 27 witness testimonies before Sunday’s judgment.
Notably, Papia and her husband had previously received 20-year sentences on October 12, 2020, from Dhaka’s Special Tribunal-1 in another case involving the possession of illegal firearms.