A Senior Special Judge’s Court in Dhaka on Monday ordered the freezing of 171 bank and FDR accounts containing Tk 155.01 crore belonging to Awami League Presidium Member Kazi Zafarullah, his wife, and their three children.
The court also directed the freezing of several bank lockers registered in the names of the family members.
Judge Md Shahjahan Kabir of the Dhaka Senior Special Judge’s Court passed the order following a petition by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). ACC panel lawyer Tarikul Islam confirmed the court directive.
The application was submitted by ACC Assistant Director and Inquiry Officer Md Saidur Rahman.
According to the petition, an inquiry uncovered substantial funds across Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDR), savings, and current accounts, alongside bank lockers, at the Gulshan and Banani branches of Meghna Bank PLC, Midland Bank PLC, and Premier Bank PLC registered to Kazi Zafarullah and his family members.
According to ACC records, Kazi Zafarullah holds 44 bank and FDR accounts, comprising Tk24.65 crore in Meghna Bank, Tk 18.06 crore in Midland Bank, and Tk7.05 crore in Premier Bank.
His wife, Nilufer Zafarullah, maintains 24 bank and FDR accounts, containing Tk18.06 crore in Midland Bank and Tk8.19 crore in Premier Bank, in addition to a double locker facility at Midland Bank.
Their elder son, Kazi Omar Zafar, holds 33 bank and FDR accounts, which include Tk 71.23 lakh in Meghna Bank, Tk9.61 crore in Midland Bank, and Tk 13.53 crore in Premier Bank, alongside a locker facility at Midland Bank.
Their second son, Kazi Raihan Zafar, holds 28 bank and FDR accounts, containing Tk12.42 crore and $16,500 in Meghna Bank, and Tk10.95 crore in Premier Bank, as well as a locker facility at Midland Bank.
Their daughter, Anushka Mehreen Zafar, maintains 42 bank and FDR accounts, comprising Tk1.84 crore in Meghna Bank, Tk8.99 crore in Midland Bank, and Tk20.93 crore in Premier Bank.
In its application, the ACC stated that investigators obtained information indicating attempts by the individuals concerned to transfer, shift, or convert these movable assets.
The commission expressed concern that if these assets were transferred prior to the disposal of the inquiry or allegations, the investigation process would be severely hampered.
Consequently, the ACC submitted that immediate freezing of these assets was required under Rule 18 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Rules, 2007, and Section 14 of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012. Following the petition, the court instructed the banks concerned to take all necessary measures.
