In a sweeping move against financial crime, the bank accounts of 366 individuals and entities, holding a combined balance of Tk 15,000 crore, were frozen between August and December last year on allegations of money laundering, said the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU).
Newly appointed BFIU Chief AFM Shahinul Islam, stated, "The accounts were frozen before I assumed my current role."
He noted that accounts found devoid of evidence of suspicious activities or money laundering would be unfrozen.
BFIU is currently scrutinising various instances of financial misconduct, including money laundering, loan fraud, and embezzlement involving over a dozen business conglomerates.
Reports have already been submitted to CID and ACC for Beximco Group.
Furthermore, BFIU has sought information from countries like Singapore, the US, and the UK on suspected money laundering activities by several business groups.
The action involved a total of 112 cases.
Following the fall of the Awami League government, the anti-money laundering unit intensified its efforts, instructing banks to freeze accounts linked to politically exposed persons and major business entities under suspicion of corruption and financial malpractice.
Between August and December, about 225 investigation reports, including those on suspicious transactions, were dispatched to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The list of frozen accounts includes those of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, sister Sheikh Rehana, and nephew Radwan Mujib Siddiq.
Prominent business figures such as Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, the former land minister, and his family; and Salman F Rahman, the former private industry and investment adviser and vice-chairman of Beximco Group, also had their accounts frozen.
Additionally, bank accounts associated with the Awami League's Centre for Research and Information (CRI) and its "Young Bangla" project have been immobilised.
Accounts of the owners and founders of Summit Group, Orion Group, Sikder Group, Nassa Group, and Nabil Group were also frozen as part of the crackdown.
Prominent bankers like SM Parvez Tamal of NRBC Bank, Mohammed Adnan Imam, the former chairman of NRBC Bank’s executive committee, and others linked to financial institutions such as Union Bank, Padma Bank, and Exim Bank have seen their accounts frozen too.
Journalists Nayeemul Islam Khan and Mozammel Haque Babu, who held significant media roles during Hasina’s tenure, were also targeted in this move.
