Dhaka, Oct 30 – The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Wednesday sent a letter asking Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) to give the details of 400 accounts of individuals and organizations, which have reportedly been frozen by the central bank. Besides, the commission imposed travel ban of 10 current and former officials of the Public Works Department and an official of the planning ministry.
In the letter, sent to Bangladesh Bank signed by ACC director general Sayeed Mahbub Khan, the commission said that it came to know that the BFIU freeze over 400 accounts of different individuals and organizations since the on-going drives against corruption.
It said as the ACC also investigating the matter it needs the names of the individuals and organizations with details of transections.
In another letter, sent to special branch of police signed by ACC director Sayed Iqbal Hossain, the commission said that it found primary evidence that the 11 persons trying to leave the country as they allegedly took bribes from controversial contactor SM Golam Kibria Shamim.
The 11 persons are— PWD suspended additional chief engineer Utpal Kumar Dey, its executive engineers Swapan Chakma, Mohammad Showkat Ullah, Mohammad Fazlul Hoque, Abdul Kader Chowdhury, Md Afsar Uddin and Md Ilias Ahmed superintendent engineers Abdul Momen Chowdhury and Md Rokon Uddin and its staff Sajjadul Islam and planning ministry senior assistant chief Mumitur Rahman.
The letter said that the people accumulated huge illegal wealth through taking bribes and involving illgal casino business.
Earlier on October 24, the commission imposed a ban on foreign travel of 22 people consisting mostly of leaders of ruling Awami League and its fronts, including members of parliament Nurunnabi Chowdhury and Shamsul Hoque Chowdhury.
The travel ban was imposed after primary evidence was found that they were involved in money laundering and were trying to leave the country, said the commission’s public relations officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharjee.
Names of the 22 people came under ACC scanner after it recently launched inquiries following the government’s crackdown against illegal casinos and money-making through unlawful means.
The rest 20 are controversial contractors — SM Golam Kibria Shamim, suspended Juba League leader Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, suspended Juba League Dhaka South City unit president Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat, expelled Juba League leader Enamul Haque Arman, Dhaka North City Corporation’s ward councillor and Mohammadpur unit Awami League general secretary Habibur Rahman Mizan, suspended Juba League office secretary Kazi Anisur Rahman and his wife Sumi Rahman, Dhaka South City Corporation ward councillor and removed Arambagh Krira Sangha chief AKM Mominul Haque Sayeed, ruling Awami League’s Gandaria thana unit vice-president Enamul Haque Enu and its joint general secretary Rupan Bhuiyan, Mohammedan Sporting Club director-in-charge Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan, his wife Nabila Lokman, Samrat’s associates Jakir Hossain and Muhammad Shafiqul Islam, former Public Works Department chief engineer Mohammad Rafiqul Islam and its current additional chief engineer M Abdul Hye, Japan-Bangladesh Security Printing and Papers Limited director Selim Pradhan, Dhaka Wonders Club employee Abul Kalam Azad, businessmen M Shafiqul Islam and Proshanta Kumar Halder.
Most of the 22 people have already been arrested by law enforcement agencies for their alleged involvement in the illegal casino businesses and amassing money through other illegal ways.
Recently, Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) directed all scheduled banks to send account details of a score of influential persons including a ruling party lawmaker, a controversial Jubo League leader and their wives, and two former top government officials.
BFIU Chief Abu Hena Mohd Razee Hassan said that banks have already been served orders to comply.
Accounts being investigated include are of – Awami League lawmaker from Bhola 3 Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shawon, his wife Farzana Chowdhury Ratna, Jubo League’s Dhaka south unit President Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat, and his wife (name unavailable), and former chief engineer and additional chief engineer of Public Works Department (PWD) Rafiqul Islam and Abdul Hai, respectively.
Razee Hassan said the BFIU served necessary orders on banks in response to requests from law enforcement agencies and the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
He, however, declined to disclose the names, but hinted they included political personalities and government officials.
The scanning of their bank accounts came following a government sponsored drive conducted by security officials from September 18 to nab drug lords and casino operators and their godfathers.
On September 18, law enforcement agencies launched drives against illegal casinos and illegal bars in the capital. Several leaders of the Awami League’s youth front, the Jubo League, and others were arrested for involvement in casino and other illegal businesses.
In the massive drive, RAB picked up Jubo League’s Dhaka south unit Organizing Secretary Khalid Mahmud Bhuiyan and controversial businessman GK Shamim and Jubo league south unit secretary Ismail Hossain Samrat and some others Awami League and casino businessmen. – Staff Reporter
