S Alam Group has filed an application with the High Court seeking withdrawal of its earlier order that had directed the authorities concerned to conduct inquiry into the allegations against its owner Mohammad Saiful Alam regarding the transfer and investment of huge amounts of money abroad without permission from the Bangladesh Bank.
The business group also sought direction from the HC upon a Supreme Court lawyer, Barrister Syed Sayedul Haque Suman, so that he cannot give any statement to the media regarding the issue.
In another application, S Alam Group requested the court to allow them to become a party in the Suo Motu rule issued by the court, so that they can place their arguments, petitions and appeals before the court through their lawyers, said Deputy Attorney General Saifuddin Khaled.
S Alam Group submitted the petitions to the HC on Wednesday through their lawyer Advocate Muhammad Saifullah.
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat may hold hearing on the petitions on Sunday, said Mr Khaled.
Earlier on August 13, the High Court refused to entertain a verbal appeal for recalling its August 6 order that had directed the authorities concerned to conduct inquiry into the allegations against S Alam Group owner Mohammad Saiful Alam.
On August 6, the same High Court bench directed the authorities concerned to conduct an inquiry into the allegations against S Alam Group owner Mohammad Saiful Alam regarding the transfer and investment of huge amounts of money abroad without permission from the Bangladesh Bank.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Police have been asked to comply with the direction. The state agencies have to submit an inquiry report to the HC within two months.
The High Court bench passed the order after considering a report published in an English daily on August 4 under the headline "S Alam's Aladdin's Lamp".
Supreme Court lawyer Syed Sayedul Haque Suman placed the newspaper report before the HC bench seeking necessary directives.
According to the published report, S Alam Group owner Saiful Alam has built a business empire in Singapore worth at least about $1.0 billion, although there is no record of him taking any permission from Bangladesh Bank to invest or transfer any funds abroad.
The central bank has so far allowed 17 companies to invest outside the country, and this Chattogram-based business giant is not on that list.
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