Diamond mogul Dilip Agarwala behind bars for 8 months in false case

Prominent diamond businessman Dilip Kumar Agarwala has been behind bars for the past eight months following his arrest in a “false” case. During this time, his once-thriving businesses have collapsed.

Many businesspeople across the country are now considering shutting down their operations, as top industrial entrepreneurs like Dilip face a series of fabricated cases and harassment.

Dilip, a former multiple-term general secretary of the Bangladesh Jewellers Association, has made significant contributions to the country’s gold trade, including helping formulate its national policy.

He is not alone – hundreds of businesspeople like him across the country are being harassed through conspiratorial and false legal charges.

This wave of cases and arrests has severely impacted trade and commerce, leaving many business owners financially ruined.

According to reports, Dilip Kumar Agarwala, the founder of Diamond World, was arrested by law enforcement on the night of 3 September last year from his office in Gulshan.

His prolonged detention has nearly shut down his businesses. With shop rents, overhead costs and employee salaries piling up, running the operations has become nearly impossible.

Employees of Diamond World stated that Dilip supported the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement and was never involved in any wrongdoing.

They claimed that Dilip was deliberately framed in multiple murder cases related to that movement, driven by business rivalry and personal vendettas.

A group of habitual litigants allegedly inserted his name into the list of accused in several cases – often without the knowledge of the actual complainants – solely to financially cripple him.

Staff members maintain that Dilip supported the movement and, under his instructions, provided students with food, water and umbrellas during the protests.

Despite this, multiple cases have been filed against him at different police stations in the capital, including Sher-e-Bangla Police Station (Case No: 21(03)25), Uttara East Police Station (Case Nos: 01(11)24 and 11(12)24), Gulshan Police Station (Case Nos: 10(09)24 and 17(12)24), Mirpur Police Station (Case No: 13(09)24), and Kotwali Police Station (Case No: 18(03)25, a murder case).

Those familiar with the matter say that Dilip Kumar Agarwala is a highly respected businessman, having been named a Commercially Important Person (CIP) five times and awarded as a top taxpayer for nine consecutive years.

The employees of his various companies are regular taxpayers and contributors to the national economy. Without his direct involvement and supervision, the businesses cannot operate effectively.

Dilip has consistently stood beside distressed communities during national crises. Despite multiple bail petitions, he has not received the expected legal relief.

He has long suffered from various health issues and has sought medical treatment abroad on several occasions.

Due to a severe deterioration in his health in prison, the court ordered treatment in a specialised hospital.

He has been undergoing regular treatment for high blood pressure, heart problems and kidney-related diseases.

However, the prison authorities returned him to jail after only a few days of hospital care, without completing his treatment, putting him at serious risk.

In light of his health conditions and considering the broader interests of the country’s industry and trade, the employees of Diamond World have urged the authorities to grant Dilip Kumar Agarwala bail and withdraw the fabricated cases against him without delay.