A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of 38 bank accounts belonging to former chief of air staff Shaikh Abdul Hannan, his wife Tahmida Begum, and their son Sheikh Labib Hannan, in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption, money laundering, and abuse of power.
Judge Md Zakir Hossain of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court issued the order on Saturday after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) sought permission to freeze the accounts to prevent possible fund transfers during the inquiry.
According to ACC Deputy Director Akhtarul Islam, the frozen accounts contain a total of Tk1,18,34,322 crore. Of the 38 accounts, five are in the name of the retired air chief, one belongs to his son, and 32 are under the name of his wife.
On May 5, the court imposed a travel ban on Hannan, his first wife Tahmida, his second wife Sanjida Akter, and their son. The following day, it ordered the seizure of multiple immovable properties including four flats and plots in Dhaka’s Nikunja and Mirpur DOHS, and in Rupganj, Narayanganj, as well as the freezing of six additional bank accounts.
In its petition, the ACC stated that it is conducting an inquiry into allegations that Hannan abused his position to amass illegal wealth, siphon off state funds, accept bribes, and engage in irregular recruitment practices.
The commission noted that the former air chief is suspected of using proxies, including family members, to acquire assets beyond known sources of income.
ACC Deputy Director Md Tanjib Hasib Sarkar, who is in-charge of the inquiry, warned that Hannan and his family were attempting to transfer or conceal wealth both at home and abroad, which could jeopardise the investigation.
“If such transfers are allowed, the recovery of those assets may become impossible,” the commission stated in its petition.
The court responded by authorising the ACC to freeze all 38 accounts to ensure the integrity of the ongoing investigation.