Janata Tower Case
The Janata Tower Case was a corruption case in Bangladesh over Janata tower in Karwan Bazar in Dhaka. The case lead to the conviction of former military dictator H. M. Ershad. Background Janata Tower is an eleven-storey building located in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. It was originally planned to be 15 floors. After construction stopped in 1991 when General Ershad stepped down the tower became a home for squatters. History On 14 April 1991 the Bureau of Anti Corruption (today Anti Corruption Commission) filed a case against 17 people including former president and military autocrat Hussein Mohammad Ershad and 19 others with Tejgaon Police Station. He was charged with abuse of power for collusion with M. M. Rahmat Ullah in allotting the land for the project; and possessing unaccounted money. The Justice in his 91 -page verdict said General Ershad was found guilty under the Prevention Act; on 20 November 2000, the justice sentenced the former president to seven years' imprisonment. The building was acquired by Bangladesh government. As a result, Ershad could not participate in the 2001 elections. Ershad appealed against the verdict in the High Court Division which affirmed the conviction, but reduced the sentence to five years