A Dhaka court on Monday imposed a travel ban on recently removed top revenue official Matiur Rahman and his wife Layla Kaniz Lucky, and their son Ahmed Taufiqur Rahman Arnob amid a wealth probe by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mohammad As-Shams Jaglul Hossain passed the order after hearing a petition filed by the ACC.
In the application, the ACC said Matiur and his family members were trying to leave the country. So there should be a travel ban for a fair investigation into the allegations against them of amassing a huge wealth through illegal means.
However, unconfirmed reports claim the official has already fled to India. He crossed the border illegally through Brahmanbaria's Akhaura on Sunday. The reports suggested he might try to travel to Dubai, where he reportedly has huge investments. However, these claims have not been verified by any official source.
In a swift turn of events, state-owned Sonali Bank Plc has ousted Matiur Rahman from the bank board, just a day after his removal from a top post at the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
A Financial Institutions Division (FID) notification on Monday confirmed the development.
Matiur Rahman has found himself in hot water following a social media post by his son. The post, which featured a video of a sacrificial goat for Eid-ul-Azha, claimed the animal was purchased for Tk 1.2 million -- sparking a firestorm of controversy.
The move by Sonali Bank followed a board meeting on Sunday, where Chairman Ziaul Hasan Siddiqui informed reporters of the government's decision to bar Rahman from participating. The meeting itself proceeded without Rahman's attendance.
Mr Rahman was appointed as a director of Sonali Bank by the government in February 2022 for a three-year term.
Prior to Sonali board removal, Mr Rahman was removed from his role as Chairman of the Customs, Excise and VAT Appellate Tribunal of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Sunday.
He was then transferred to the Internal Resources Division (IRD).
The controversy surrounding Mr Rahman's wealth erupted when news surfaced of his son's extravagant goat purchase. The exorbitant price tag of the goat fueled public curiosity and ignited accusations of corruption.
People wondered about the income of the official at grade-1, with a basic monthly salary of Tk 78,000.
Mr Rahman, however, denied the claims, saying that "Ifat, the person being talked about, is neither my son nor even a relative or acquaintance. My only son's name is Taufiqur Rahman. I will formally protest these rumours."
Despite his denials, the allegations have cast a long shadow as media reports have since focused on the lifestyle of Mr Rahman and his family, revealing their ownership of resorts, shooting spots, bungalows, land and other properties.
These allegations further intensified scrutiny, suggesting potential investments by Mr Rahman in Singapore, the United States, Canada and the UAE. To look into these claims, the ACC formed a three-member committee on Sunday.
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