Shakib demands unfreezing of bank accounts

All-rounder cricketer Shakib Al Hasan claimed that his earnings were from legitimate business activities and documented sources, and demanded unfreezing of his bank accounts immediately.
In a recent letter to the central bank governor and the Ministry of Finance, Shakib's attorney Md Salahuddin said the freezing of the cricketer's bank accounts without any prior notice or opportunity to be heard, and without providing a clear and legitimate basis for such action constitutes a serious violation of the principles of natural justice.
Terming the actions as "unjustified" and "abrupt", he said "the measure has caused irreparable harm to his (Shakib's) reputation and severely disrupted his daily operations".
He also wrote that Shakib's earnings and business activities stem from legitimate and documented sources, including national and international cricket contracts, brand endorsements, and lawful investments.
"Despite this, his accounts have been frozen without any specific allegation or proof connecting his assets to unlawful activities. Given the absence of such evidence, the continued freezing of Mr Shakib Al Hasan's accounts is not only unjustified, but also legally untenable."
According to the letter, the bank accounts of Shakib were frozen under Section 23(1) (c) and Section 23(1)(ga) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2012, during February and March 2025, without prior notices.
Shakib, also a former lawmaker from Bangladesh Awami league, had been maintaining these bank accounts with the United Commercial Bank PLC, the City Bank Limited, and the Eastern Bank PLC.
"These successive actions were taken without any prior notice and affording Shakib Al Hasan an opportunity of being heard, and in the absence of any specific or substantiated allegation. These actions have caused considerable disruption to his personal and professional affairs and appear to be procedurally unjustified."

syful-islam@outlook.com