Court freezes bank accounts of ex-air force chief

Staff Reporter :

A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of 38 bank accounts belonging to former Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sheikh Abdul Hannan, his wife Tahmida Begum, and their son Sheikh Labib Hannan.

The order was issued on Saturday by Judge Zakir Hossain Galib of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court.

The petition was filed by Deputy Director Md. Tanzir Hasib Sarkar on behalf of the
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

According to case documents, the total balance across these frozen accounts is reportedly Tk 1 crore 18 lakh 34 thousand 322.

The ACC informed the court that Sheikh Abdul Hannan is under investigation for alleged abuse of power, embezzlement of public funds, bribery, manipulation in recruitment processes, various irregularities, corruption, and laundering money abroad.

He is also accused of acquiring wealth beyond known sources of income, both in his name and in the names of his close associates.

To investigate these allegations, the ACC has formed a three-member inquiry committee.
During the investigation, it was also revealed that Sheikh Hannan and his family members were attempting to transfer or conceal their movable and immovable assets.

The ACC warned that if such assets are transferred, recovering them in the future would be extremely difficult. Therefore, it deemed urgent the need to freeze their movable assets and seize their immovable properties.

Earlier on May 5, the court imposed a travel ban on Sheikh Hannan and two members of his family.
The next day, the court ordered the seizure of their land, houses, flats, and freezing of bank accounts.