Since 1996 Orion Group Chairman Obaidul Karim has maintained his position by resorting to bribery and corruption, engaging in embezzlement, fraud, and forgery.
Despite his efforts to evade legal consequences, the military-backed caretaker government of 2007-2008 initiated over 14 cases against him, resulting in a 48-year prison sentence from three cases.
However, due to widespread corruption, he never served his sentence, and even the documentation of the court's verdict mysteriously disappeared.
After a change in government in 2009, Karim secured his influence by partnering with powerful ministers and MPs of the former Awami League government in his enterprises.
To ensure protection from his sentence, he not only offered bribes but also strategically aligned with influential figures. Notably, he established an entity called One Entertainment solely for facilitating these bribes. This was uncovered in an investigative report by a newspaper.
In a significant ruling on 5 May last year, the High Court Bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat found that Obaidul Karim had bribed at least Tk25 crore to the state minister for power of the BNP-Jamaat government and his wife during 2005-2006.
The 273-page judgement detailed that Orion's Digital Power Associates Ltd illegally secured several power projects by paying these bribes.
Specifically, Obaidul Karim issued a cheque (No. 8191354) from his Southeast Bank account (No. 11100012814), providing Tk50 lakh to Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku.
Additionally, on 6 June 2006, One Entertainment facilitated a transfer of 12.4 million BDT from accounts at State Bank of India, IFIC Bank Bangladesh (Nos. 0233022613 and 051309592001).
Of this amount, Tk48 lakh was used to purchase a BMW for Tuku, while another Tk74 lakh was spent on a 3-katha plot in Bashundhara Residential Area.
The remaining Tk238,583 was transferred through the State Bank of India.
Obaidul Karim, however, claimed that this money was paid as rent for his brother, who was residing in India at the time.
In another instance, on 6 December 2005, One Entertainment issued a pay order (No. 0392959) for Tk1 crore to Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku's wife, Rumana Mahmud, through the Oriental Bank’s Karwan Bazar branch.
Although the pay order initially listed Karim’s son-in-law, Mehedi Hasan, as the receiver, his name was later replaced with Rumana Mahmud, who eventually withdrew the funds.
Earlier that same year, on 28 March, another pay order for Tk1 crore was issued to Rumana Mahmud.
The verdict described these transactions as part of a total bribe of at least Tk25 crore.
Justice Nazrul Islam Talukder authored the verdict, with Justice Khizir Hayat concurring.
Furthermore, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case on 5 June 2007 at Dhanmondi Police Station, accusing Obaidul Karim and four others of bribing the former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s political secretary, Harris Chowdhury, with a car to secure the Jatrabari Flyover project.
Despite the charges being formally presented and upheld by the trial court, Obaidul Karim was later acquitted by the High Court after he appealed the case.
With over 14 cases, including charges of bribery, embezzlement, illegal asset accumulation, fraud, and forgery, and a 48-year sentence looming over him, Obaidul Karim attempted a comeback in 2009.
When the 14-party coalition led by the Awami League assumed power, he sought to absolve himself from his criminal activities by partnering with influential ministers and MPs in his enterprises.
Among them, former state minister for textiles and jute, Mirza Azam was appointed as a director of Orion’s subsidiary, Digital Power & Associates Ltd.
Awami League leader and former MP Alauddin Ahmed Chowdhury Nasim was given a directorship at Dutch-Bangla Power Associates Ltd., while Orion Power Sonargaon Ltd saw Narayanganj MP Shamim Osman appointed as a director.
By partnering with such influential figures, Obaidul Karim has managed to remain untouchable for the last 16 years and continues to pursue these strategies.
