A Dhaka court has imposed a travel ban on Independent Television’s Editor-in-Chief and CEO M Shamsur Rahman Momen over allegations of involvement in laundering thousands of crores of taka linked to Beximco Group Vice Chairman Salman F Rahman.
Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Jakir Hossain Galib issued the order on Wednesday following a petition by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
ACC Public Relations Officer Akterul Islam confirmed the order to reporters at night.
The application, submitted by ACC Deputy Director and head of the inquiry team Muhammad Zainal Abedin, said that “credible sources” had informed the
commission that Momen could leave the country at any time.
“For the sake of a proper investigation, it is necessary to restrict his foreign travel,” the petition read.
Independent TV, a private broadcaster, has significant shares owned by Salman F Rahman, currently in prison. He is under investigation by the ACC and other
government agencies for allegedly securing irregular loans from multiple banks and siphoning funds abroad.
The ACC has formed a five-member team to probe alleged irregularities by Salman Rahman, his family members and associates, including stock market manipulation, placement share scams, fraud, embezzlement of around Tk 36,000 crore from state-owned and private banks, and laundering billions overseas.
The commission told the court that its preliminary inquiry suggested Momen was “involved in laundering thousands of crores of taka abroad” and might attempt to leave the country during the investigation, prompting the travel ban request.