As part the anti-corruption drive, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) authorities has prepared a list of around 800 people linked with casino crimes, extortion, tender manipulation, bribery and other corrupt practices, sources said. The list includes ministers, lawmakers, politicians, businessmen, contractors, present and former officials of the government.
Besides, the ACC has sought information from the Bangladesh Bank for details of bank accounts of about 600 people. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) authorities already have frozen bank accounts of around 400 with the recommendations by the ACC, National Bureau of Revenue and the court. Moreover, bans on travelling abroad have also been imposed against around 200 people.
According to the ACC, its director general (DG-Special Investigation) Sayeed Mahbub Khan sent letters to the Bangladesh Bank authorities seeking information about the bank accounts of 600 people. In the letter, the ACC DG mentioned that the ongoing anti-corruption drive will continue.
“As per reports published in different media, the BFIU so far has frozen bank accounts of a total of 400 people and their institutions. For the continuation of the investigation by the ACC and cases filed by the ACC, details about the monitory transactions of those bank accounts are necessary for the ACC”, the letter reads.
The ACC also sought cooperation from the Bangladesh Bank and the BFIU for the success of the ACC drives and its investigation. According to the ACC and the BFIU officials, many of those 400 people whose bank accounts have been frozen, have residences and businesses in different countries, including Malaysia. But the officials declined to disclose their names and other details for the sake of the investigation.
An ACC official concerned said, the anti-corruption drive and other activities are being monitored as well as supervised by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) directly.
He said, a list of 800 people has been prepared with the information provided by casino criminals Ismail Hossain Somrat, Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, GK Shamim, Lokman Hossain and Selim Prodhan,
According to ACC, the BFIU has frozen bank accounts of Bhola-3 lawmaker Nur-un-Nobi Chowdhury Shaon, Chattogram-12 lawmaker Shamsul Huq Chowdhury, immediate past Jubo League chairman Omar Faryuq Chowdhury, Swechchhsebok League President Molla Md Abu Kawsar, General Secretary Pankaj Devnath, Jubo League leader Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat, Dhaka City Ward Coincilors Mominul Huq Sayeed and Habibur Rahman Mizan, Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, Mohamedan Sporting Club Director Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan, Kalabagan Crira Chakra president Shafiqul Islam Firoz, Jubo League leaders Kazi Anisur Rahman and Mizanur Rahman Bakul, Awami League leader Enamul Huq Enu, his brother Rupam Bhuiyan, contractor GK Shamim, former PWD chief engineer Rafiqul Islam and present additional chief engineer Abdul Hye, mafia don Aziz Mohammad Bhai and his family members and business organisations.
As per the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a countrywide anti-graft operation has been launched from September 18. As part of the drive around one hundred people, including leaders and businessmen, already have been arrested.