Staff Reporter:
A Dhaka court on Thursday indicted former managing director (MD) of private television channel Somoy TV Ahmed Zobayer and ordered the commencement of the trial in an embezzlement case.
Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman passed the order after rejecting his discharge petition and fixed 10 November for recording witness testimony, said defence lawyer Saleh Uddin.
Earlier, on 5 May 2025, Somoy TV Senior Manager Syed Asaduzzaman filed the case over the allegation that while Ahmed Zobayer was in charge of Somoy TV, Tk2.33 crore was allegedly withdrawn from the company’s funds in violation of rules.
After he was relieved of his responsibilities, he was asked to return two company vehicles and the money withdrawn from the funds. However, he allegedly refused to return them. Though the complainant side sent him a legal notice seeking the return of the assets, he did not respond to it, the case alleged.
Meanwhile, defence lawyer Saleh Uddin sought bail for Ahmed Zobayer before the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Ishrat Jahan in the fraud and forgery case, which the court also rejected.
On 10 May, a man named Syed Asaduzzaman filed the case against Ahmed Zobayer and five others on charges of “fraud, breach of trust and forgery of documents”.
Later, Ahmed Zobayer surrendered before the court and sought bail on 18 June. However, the court rejected the bail petition and sent him to jail. He has remained in jail since then.
