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DHAKA: A court has ordered the freezing of seven bank accounts belonging to M Shamsur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer and Editor of Independent Television Limited, and individuals associated with his interests.
On Monday, Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Shahjahan Kabir passed the order after a hearing.
Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Muhammad Zainal Abedin, filed the petition seeking the freezing of the accounts on behalf of the commission.
According to the petition, allegations have been raised against Salman F Rahman, former private industry and investment adviser to the former prime minister and chairman of Beximco Group, and others over the embezzlement of thousands of crores of taka from shareholders through manipulation and fraud involving placement shares.
The petition also alleged that they had misappropriated around Tk 36,000 crore in loans from various public and private banks by abusing their influence and laundered thousands of crores of taka abroad.
The ACC further stated that, during the investigation into these allegations, charges of acquiring assets beyond known sources of income and money laundering abroad were also brought against M Shamsur Rahman. Investigators subsequently found information about various bank accounts held in his name.
According to the ACC petition, credible sources indicated that Shamsur Rahman and individuals associated with his interests were attempting to transfer, move or convert funds held in these accounts.
The commission apprehended that, if such attempts were successful, they could obstruct the investigation, the filing of a case and charge sheet, and the eventual confiscation of assets derived from alleged criminal proceeds in favour of the state following trial.
In these circumstances, the ACC argued that freezing the bank accounts was necessary to ensure a proper investigation and justice.
