Bank accounts frozen, property attached, travel ban imposed

A Dhaka court on Tuesday ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to freeze 124 bank accounts of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, seven of their family members, and organisations related to them over corruption allegations.
Judge of the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court in Dhaka Md Zakir Hossain passed the order, after hearing a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission seeking to freeze the accounts.
Hasina's family members, who have also been included in the freezing list, are: her daughter Saima Wazed Putul and son Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy; Rehana's husband Shafique Ahmed Siddique and son Radwan Mujib Siddiq; Shaheen Siddique, Bushra Siddique, and Tarique Ahmed Siddique.
The related organizations are: Bangladesh Awami League, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust, Centre for Research and Information, Jatir Jonok Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum, Shuchona Foundation, SF-Supported Employment Project, Abu Siddique Memorial Trust, Bangaldesh Awami League Nirbachon-2008 Tohbil, Thames Industry and others.
Earlier on the day, ACC Deputy Director and head of the enquiry team Md Monirul Islam submitted an application to the court seeking necessary order regarding the issue.
The court also ordered to attach immovable properties of Putul, Joy, Sheikh Rehana, her daughter Tulip Siddiq and son Radwan as ACC is holding investigation into the corruption allegations against them.
As per an ACC document, the court ordered to attach a flat in Gulshan, Dhaka, owned by Tulip Siddiq. Apart from this, it ordered to attach 'Sudha Sodon' at Dhanmondi Road no 5 (new) including its land owned by Putul and Joy, and properties in Gazipur and Gulshan area in Dhaka owned by Rehana and her son Radwan.
ACC petition said the accused of the ongoing corruption investigation are trying to transfer the properties. Thus, an attachment order is needed from the court for a fair investigation into the allegations, also read the petition.
The court on the day also issued a travel ban on Sheikh Hasina, her daughter Putul and son Joy, Rehana, Tulip, Ajmina Siddiq, and Radwan.
ACC cited that it is holding an investigation into the allegation that Sheikh Hasina and her family members have embezzled Tk 590 billion while establishing Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project. Therefore, a travel ban is needed to be issued upon them.
Meanwhile, the Special Court also issued a travel ban on 15 members of Sikder family for their alleged involvement in money laundering.
The persons on whom travel ban have been imposed are: Monowara Begum, Zainul Haque Sikder, wife of former chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Bank Limited, Mamtazul Haque Sikder, Nasim Sikder, Parveen Haque Sikder, Salahuddin Khan, Monica Khan Sikder, Jeffrey Khan Sikder, Mandy Khan Sikder, Lisa F Haque Sikder, Dipu Haque Sikder, Ron Haque Sikder, Rick Haque Sikder, Sean Haque Sikder and John Haque Sikder.
On March 9, the court also ordered to freeze 42 BO accounts owned by Zainul Haque Sikder, and his family members.
According to the ACC petition, most of the Sikder family members are now abroad and they are trying to sell or transfer the shares of their part.

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