Travel ban imposed on ex-BFIU chief Shahinul, wife
The daughter-in-law of former Southeast Bank chairman Alamgir Kabir has also been barred from leaving country
A Dhaka court has imposed a travel ban on AFM Shahinul Islam, the former head of the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), and his wife Suma Islam.
Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Foyez passed the order today (16 October), after hearing a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The court, after hearing another ACC petition, also barred Nusrat Nahar, daughter-in-law of former Southeast Bank Chairman Alamgir Kabir, from leaving the country, said ACC Public Relations Officer Akhtarul Islam.
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The anti-graft watchdog Assistant Director Md Rasel Rony and Deputy Director Azizul Haque submitted the petitions seeking the travel bans.
In its plea, the ACC stated that an inquiry is underway against Shahinul for alleged abuse of power, irregularities, corruption, and acquisition of illegal wealth in his and others' names, as well as laundering money abroad.
Citing sources, the ACC told the court that Shahinul and his family members were reportedly planning to leave the country. Therefore, to ensure a fair and uninterrupted investigation, it was essential to restrict their foreign travel.
Earlier on 9 September, the government cancelled the remaining tenure of AFM Shahinul Islam's contractual appointment as the head of the BFIU.
The decision was made in line with Article 7 of the agreement signed with him, according to a circular issued by the finance ministry's Financial Institutions Division.
On 19 August, he was sent on mandatory leave.
Regarding Nusrat, the ACC's petition said an investigation is ongoing against Alamgir over allegations of abuse of power, nepotism, and embezzlement of hundreds of crores of taka from the bank.
Based on credible information that Nusrat, wife of Alamgir's son Raihan Kabir, might attempt to flee abroad, the ACC requested a travel ban to facilitate the investigation.
