Court freezes all assets of former Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak amid corruption investigation

In a significant move, a court has ordered the seizure of all assets belonging to former State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak. 

The ruling comes after a request from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Sunday.

The court’s decision follows an earlier request made by the ACC, which resulted in a freeze on Palak’s assets, including those of his son and mother-in-law, as well as their bank accounts. 

This order was issued on the previous Monday by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib.

The ACC has also broadened its investigation by sending letters to eight countries, including Singapore, in search of foreign assets linked to the Bashundhara Group and its owners and directors. 

They are also looking into the potential foreign citizenship of the group’s key figures.

Meanwhile, the ACC has filed a case against Nazrul Islam Mazumder, Chairman of Nassa Group, for allegedly acquiring illegal assets worth Tk 781 crore. 

Additionally, three cases have been filed against Subed Ali Bhuiyan, a former MP from Comilla, and his family for the unlawful acquisition of assets totaling Tk 8 crore.

Md. Akhtar Hossain, Director General of the ACC, explained, 

"A decision has been made to file a case against him under section 27-1 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 4 and section 5-2 of the Anti-Corruption Prevention Act of 1947, accusing him of committing the crime of acquiring and possessing assets worth Tk 781 crore through the misuse of power and by means of bribes and corruption, which are inconsistent with his known sources of income."