Staff Reporter:
A Dhaka court on Thursday ordered the freezing of three bank accounts belonging to former Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh in connection with a graft case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Faiz passed the order following a petition submitted by ACC Assistant Director Md Ferdous Rahman.
According to the petition, Taposh abused his power to accumulate wealth worth Tk73.19 crore, disproportionate to his known sources of income, while serving as a member of parliament and later as the DSCC mayor.
Investigation also found suspicious transactions of Tk539.16 crore and $5,17,527 in 27 bank accounts under his name.
The ACC alleged that he is attempting to transfer or conceal his assets, which could cause significant loss to the state if not frozen.
The same court also ordered the seizure of 15 land deeds and one plot, as well as the freezing of 30 bank and financial institution accounts under the name of retired additional superintendent of police (ASP) Uttam Kumar Biswas.
According to the petition filed by ACC Assistant Director Md Ruhul Haque, Uttam withdrew amounts from his and his family’s accounts immediately after receiving the first ACC notice during the preliminary inquiry.
He also reportedly sold two flats and several plots registered under the name of his wife, Krishna Biswas, before submitting his wealth statement to the commission.
The above-mentioned assets will be transferred or concealed if not seized immediately, the commission said in its petition.
