A Dhaka court has issued a travel ban on former Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim, former lawmaker Jannat Ara Henry and former Customs Commissioner Wahida Rahman Chowdhury.
Judge Mohammed Ash-Shams Joglul Hossain of Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court passed the order on Thursday following an application by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), according to sources from its public relations office.
The ACC sources said that on September 1 the ACC initiated an enquiry against Rezaul Karim into allegations of accumulating significant illegal wealth through corruption and misuse of power.
Rezaul Karim, who was elected MP from Pirojpur-1 constituency with "Boat" symbol in the 12th national election, served as ministers of both fisheries and livestock and housing and public works.
He is facing allegations of amassing in Barishal's Nazirpur, Pirojpur, and various locations in Dhaka.
During his tenure at the Fisheries and Livestock Ministry, he allegedly embezzled Tk 250 million in the procurement of equipment and training under the Livestock and Dairy Development project.
Additionally, he is accused of owning expensive assets both in Bangladesh and abroad, the sources stated.
ACC sources said the ACC began investigating former Sirajganj-2 MP Jannat Ara Henry on August 20, focusing on allegations of her illegal accumulation of wealth worth over Tk 1.0 billion.
She is also reported to have laundered Tk 320 million during the 2020-21 fiscal year. Henry has significant properties in Sirajganj, Narayanganj, Gazipur, Patuakhali, and Dhaka. Among her assets, she allegedly built a massive complex called "Henry Bhuban" in her hometown of Sirajganj.
The ACC sources also said Wahida Rahman Chowdhury, a former Customs Commissioner, is under probe for embezzling Tk 1.52 billion.
A case was filed against her on June 11 by the ACC, accusing her of waiving interest payments illegally on 16 files, causing significant financial losses to the government.
The embezzlement primarily benefited telecom companies Grameenphone, Robi, Banglalink and Airtel.
On June 13, a travel ban was imposed on her for 60 days, which has now been extended.
The court's decision to restrict their travel follows mounting evidence of corruption and misuse of power, the source added.
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