Online Desk  :   A Dhaka court has ordered the authorities concerned to freeze the movable and immovable offshore assets of eight family members of Bashundhara Group, including chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan Shah Alam. Judge Md Zakir Hossain of Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court on November 21 passed the order after the ACC submitted an application in this regard. The court asked the authorities to send copies to seize properties of eight members of Ahmed Akbar Sobhan to the Singapore, Switzerland, the UK, the UAE, Slovakia, Cyprus, Saint Kitts and Nevis; and British Virgin Island authorities. The ACC informed the court that there are around Tk 143 crore of bank transactions, investment and assets of the Bashundhara owners.

The other seven family members are Shah Alam’s wife Afroza Begum, his sons Sayem Sobhan Anvir, Bashundhara managing director, Sadat Sobhan, Shafiat Sobhan, vice-chairman of the conglomerate, and Safwan Sobhan and; Sadat’s wife Sonia Ferdowshi Sobhan; Anvir’s wife Sabrina Sobhan and Safwan’s wife Yasha Sobhan. The anti-graft body also informed the court that no members of Akbar Sobhan’s family took permission from Bangladesh Bank to send money to foreign countries. Mir Ahmed Salam, public prosecutor of the ACC, said the ACC submitted a list of their movable and immovable offshore assets after investigation and filed a petition to the court to seize those assets. Then the court granted the petition.

To bring back the money laundered abroad, the agencies of relevant countries must show a court order. This order from the Dhaka court will help in bringing back the laundered money. Earlier on October 21, a Dhaka court barred Ahmed Akbar Sobhan and seven other famiy members from leaving the country. And on October 6, court ordered to seize their bank accounts.