Another travel ban on Hasina, nearly 16 months after she fled to India
The ban is also imposed on 16 others, including former Awami League ministers and MPs, in a case over Tk309 crore fraud and embezzlement charges
A Dhaka court today (21 December) imposed a travel ban on ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India nearly 16 months ago following a mass uprising, in a case filed over fraud and embezzlement of over Tk309 crore of government funds.
The ban was also imposed on 16 others, including several high-profile former Awami League MPs, confirmed Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Assistant Director (Public Relations) Tanjir Ahmed.
Judge Md Abdullah Al Mamun of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court passed the order following an application filed by the ACC, he said.
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Alongside Hasina, the former ministers barred from leaving include Obaidul Quader, Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Anisul Huq, and Md Abdul Mannan.
The 10 others are MAN Siddique, Rafiqul Jalil, Mohammad Shafiqul Karim, Md Firoz Iqbal, Ebne Alam Hasan, Md Aftab Hossain Khan, Md Abdus Salam, Munir-Uz-Zaman Chowdhury, Selina Chowdhury, and Md Ikram Iqbal.
The anti-graft body's application, submitted by its Assistant Director Md Tanzil Hasan, details a fraudulent scheme involving a firm named "Computer Network System (CNS) Limited".
According to the ACC, the accused allegedly colluded to allow the firm to receive bills at an inflated rate of 17.75% over a five-year period. This arrangement resulted in a direct financial loss of Tk309,42,45,890 to the state exchequer. The company received bills worth Tk489,43,73,000 during its working period.
The ACC further noted that the accused bypassed standard procedures and misused their governmental positions to personally benefit from the misappropriated funds.
Over a hundred already abroad
In its submission to the court, the anti-graft body emphasised that a travel restriction was essential to safeguard the integrity of the investigation, stating that reliable sources suggested the accused named in the First Information Report (FIR) might attempt to leave the country, which would significantly hinder the probe and lead to the potential destruction of crucial evidence.
Since September 2024, courts have granted the ACC's requests to impose travel bans on nearly 250 former ministers, MPs, politicians, businessmen and government officials on allegations ranging from money laundering and embezzlement of bank loans and government project funds to accumulating illegal wealth.
However, over a hundred of the restricted individuals are already known to be abroad.
Just this September, two separate Dhaka courts imposed travel bans on Sheikh Hasina and others in connection with a Vatara murder case and alleged anti-state activities and attempts to overthrow the interim government.
