Court orders freezing 116 bank accounts, seizure of properties of ex-NBR official Matiur, family

A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of 116 bank accounts and 23 beneficiary owner (BO) accounts, along with seizing several 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 on Thursday (11 July), allowing a plea of the investigation officer and Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Anwar Hossain.

The properties ordered to be seized includes 12.58 decimals of land in Savar under Matiur's name and 14 decimals under his wife Laila Kanis' name. In Bhaluka, 104 decimals under son Arnab's name and 958 decimals in the name of Global Shoes owned by Motiur's brother AM Kaiyum Howlader, and in Gazipur, 875.95 decimals under the names of Matiur, Farzana, Arnab, Monowar, and Apon Bhuban Limited.

In Shibpur of Narsingdi, 38 decimals under his wife Laila Kaniz's name, 126 decimals in the name of son Arnab, and 72 decimals in the name of daughter Ipshita and in Singra of Natore, 166 decimals of land in the name of Laila.

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

Besides immovable properties, the court ordered the freezing of 23 BO accounts in the stock market and 116 bank accounts containing over Tk13.44 crore.

The investigation officer in his plea said Matiur has allegedly amassed illegal wealth of hundreds of crores of taka 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.

Previously, on 4 July, the same court ordered the seizure of 866 decimals of land under the names of Matiur and his family members. Besides, four flats in Bashundhara and Dhanmondi were also ordered to be seized.

On 2 July, the anti-graft body issued separate notices to Matiur and his two wives and children for submitting their wealth statements.

Earlier on 24 June, 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 travelling abroad until further notice.