Court wants 116 bank accounts of ex-NBR official Matiur, family forzen

A court in Dhaka has ordered to freeze 116 bank and 23 beneficiary owner (BO) accounts and seize different moveable and immovable properties owned by former National Board of Revenue (NBR) official Matiur Rahman and his family members.

Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mohammad Jaglul Hossain passed the order today, allowing a plea of the Investigation Officer (IO) and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Anwar Hossain.

The IO in his plea said that Matiur has allegedly amassed illegal wealth of Taka hundreds of crores and laundered the money abroad through hundi, under-invoicing and over-invoicing.

"During the probe, we learned that the accused and his family members are trying to hand over properties, and if they manage to do so, all the attempts to seize the illegal wealth and properties will go in vain," the IO said in his plea.

The properties, that have been ordered to be seized, include 26.61 decimal land in Savar, 104 decimal land in Bhaluka, 958 decimal land in the name of Global Shoes in Bhaluka, 875.95 decimal land in Gazipur, 38 decimal land in the name of Matiur‍‍`s wife Laila, 126 decimal land in the name of son Arnab, 72 decimal land in the name of daughter Ipshita in Shibpur, Narshingdi, 166 decimal land in the name of Laila in Singra, Natore.

Apart from these, Matiur family‍‍`s four flats in Sheltech Bithika Apartment Complex in Mirpur have also been ordered to be sized.

The anti-graft body on July 2 had issued separate notices to Matiur and his two wives and children for submitting their wealth statements. 

Earlier on June 24, Dhaka Senior Special Judge Mohammad Jaglul Hossain issued an order banning Matiur, his wife Narsingdi Raipura Upazila Chairman Laila Kaniz, and son Ahmed Taufiqur Rahman Arnab from traveling abroad until further notice.

Matiur Rahman was the president of the NBR Customs, Excise and VAT Appellate Tribunal. He was transferred to the Internal Resources Division (IRD) of the Finance Ministry following a recent controversy over his wealth on June 23.