The High Court has suspended the order issued by the Senior Special Judge’s Court in Dhaka, which had granted permission for Orion Group Chairman Obaidul Karim and his wife, Arjuda Karim, to travel abroad.
On Tuesday (18 March), a High Court bench comprising Justice Mohammad Ali and Justice Sheikh Tahsin Ali passed the ruling along with the suspension order after hearing a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) challenging the lower court’s decision.
Earlier, on 16 March, the Senior Special Judge’s Court in Dhaka had granted permission for Obaidul Karim and his wife to travel overseas.
The ACC subsequently filed a revision petition with the High Court, which was heard on Tuesday.
Senior lawyer Asif Hasan represented the ACC in court, while senior lawyer Ahsanul Karim appeared on behalf of Obaidul Karim and his wife.
Ahsanul Karim stated that the High Court has suspended the Special Judge’s Court’s order until 21 April, when a further hearing will take place.
Meanwhile, ACC lawyer Asif Hasan noted that an investigation into money laundering allegations against Orion Group and its chairman is currently underway.
Preliminary findings have emerged, prompting the ACC to seek a travel ban on Obaidul Karim, his wife, and other family members.
Initially, the Special Judge’s Court had imposed a travel ban.
However, Obaidul Karim, his wife, and daughter later sought permission to travel abroad, citing medical treatment for Karim and an Umrah pilgrimage, with his wife and daughter accompanying him as attendants.
On 16 March, the Special Judge’s Court granted permission for Obaidul Karim and his wife to travel.
The case is set for further proceedings in the High Court on 21 April.
