ACC summons Bashundhara chairman, family members
Staff Reporter :
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has summoned Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan and members of his family for questioning as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of land grabbing, embezzlement, and money laundering.
In official summons letters sent on Tuesday, the ACC directed them to appear at its head office in Segunbagicha, Dhaka, on May 25 and 26 for interrogation.
Director General (Prevention) of the ACC, Md. Akhter Hossain, confirmed the issuance of the letters to bdnews24.com.
According to the notice, the ACC is investigating allegations against Ahmed Akbar Sobhan (also known as Shah Alam), his family members, and related individuals. The charges include evading government revenue, illegal land acquisition, misappropriation of loan funds, illegal transfer of assets, and money laundering.
Those summoned for questioning on May 25 include:
Ahmed Akbar Sobhan ,His wife, Afroza Begum,Their eldest son, Sadat Sobhan ,Sadat’s wife, Sonia Ferdousi Sobhan.
Those scheduled to appear on May 26 are: Bashundhara Group Managing Director, Sayem Sobhan Anvir ,His wife, Sabrina Sobhan ,Co-Chairman Sadat Sobhan (again) and his wife, Sonia Ferdousi Sobhan ,Vice Chairman Safiat Sobhan Sanvir ,Vice Chairman Safwan Sobhan and his wife, Yasha Sobhan.
Following the change in power on August 5, 2024, brought about by a widespread student and citizen movement, state agencies have launched investigations into alleged irregularities by influential business figures who were seen as beneficiaries of the previous Awami League government.
The National Board of Revenue’s Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) initiated investigations into Bashundhara and four other major companies, requesting transaction records of the business owners and their family members from banks and financial institutions.
In October 2024, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) ordered the freezing of bank accounts belonging to Ahmed Akbar Sobhan and eight members of his family, including his four sons.
Later that same month, a court imposed a travel ban on eight members of the Sobhan family following a petition by the ACC.
Additionally, in September 2024, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) announced a separate investigation into allegations that the Bashundhara Group had illegally occupied land worth an estimated Tk 1.5 trillion and laundered large sums of money abroad.
These developments signal intensified scrutiny on corporate elites amid efforts to restore accountability and transparency in Bangladesh’s governance and financial systems.