Court freezes 191 bank accounts of Summit Group Chairman Aziz Khan and his family

In a major development, a Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of 191 bank accounts belonging to Summit Group Chairman Mohammad Aziz Khan and his family members. 

The move comes amidst ongoing investigations into alleged corruption and money laundering activities linked to the prominent businessman.

On Sunday, March 9, Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md. Zakir Hossain issued the freezing order in response to a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). 

The ACC‍‍`s Assistant Director, Al-Mamun Hossain, had raised concerns about the potential withdrawal or transfer of the funds, which amount to BDT 41.74 crore, from the accounts.

Aziz Khan, who is a well-known figure in both Bangladesh and Singapore’s business circles, is also the brother of former Awami League MP from Gopalganj-1, Lieutenant Colonel (Retd.) Faruk Khan.

During the court hearing, ACC’s Public Prosecutor Mahmud Hossain Jahangir presented the petition, highlighting that the investigation revealed suspiciously large sums of money in the accounts linked to Aziz Khan and his family. 

The ACC claimed that the funds may have been accumulated through illegal means, including bribery and corruption.

The ACC stated that Summit Group, along with its subsidiaries, is being scrutinized over allegations of acquiring wealth through questionable practices. 

Authorities fear that the funds could be moved abroad, thus hindering the investigation. 

The court’s order to freeze the accounts is aimed at preventing any possible attempts to launder or hide the money.

This action comes after the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) had already gathered information on the bank accounts of Aziz Khan and his family members. 

In fact, on October 7 last year, the BFIU had directed various banks to freeze the accounts of Khan and his family.

Aziz Khan, a high-profile businessman, is among the top 50 business figures in Singapore and one of the most influential entrepreneurs in Bangladesh.

This court order is part of a broader effort by the authorities to crack down on corruption and ensure that illegally gained wealth cannot be hidden or transferred abroad. 

The investigation is still ongoing, and further legal actions may be on the horizon depending on the findings.