Banks freeze accounts of Hasina, 19 others

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FE Report
Banks and non-banking financial institutions (NBFIs) froze Monday accounts of 20 individuals, including Awami League president Sheikh Hasina and her close relations, and three organisations following instructions from the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
The banks and NBFIs asked their branches across the country for taking necessary measures in this connection, sources in the banking sector said.
"The branches have already got the list of those individuals and organisations for taking steps to freeze such accounts," a chief executive of a private commercial bank told the FE Monday.
He also said the banks will act in line with the existing rules and regulations.
The individuals include Hasina's husband Dr M A Wajed Miah, sister Sheikh Rehana Siddiqui, son Sajeeb Wajed Joy and daughter Saima Wajed Putul, former state minister for home affairs Lutfozzaman Babar and his relations, former President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Abdul Awal Mintoo, Abdul Hadi and former CBA Leader Mollah Abul Kalam Azad.
The organisations are the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, the Bangabandhu Memorial Trust and the Grenade Affected Welfare Trust.
On Wednesday last, the NBR asked all scheduled banks and NBFIs to freeze the accounts as per clause 4 of section 117 of Income Tax Ordinance 1984.
The central intelligence cell (CIC) of the NBR has issued a letter to all scheduled banks and NBFIs asking the chief executives for taking necessary measures in this connection.
Besides, the CIC has asked the commercial banks and NBFIs to provide information about bank accounts of 30 individuals including Awami League President Sheikh Hasina and her close relations and former foreign minister M Morshed Khan and three organisations.
The CIC has issued letters to the banks and NBFIs asking the managing directors for taking necessary measure in this connection, the sources added.
The Bangladesh Bank (BB) earlier asked the banks and NBFIs to cooperate with the law enforcing agencies through providing information about the transactions by suspected individuals.
Besides, the central bank instructed them to carry out the order immediately by the first class magistrate or metropolitan magistrate for freezing such accounts.
The BB has already directed all banks to submit information about the bank accounts and the financial statements of 198 individuals, including high profile political leaders, by August 08.