Staff Reporter :
A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of 114 bank accounts linked to Towfika Karim, former personal secretary to ex-law minister Anisul Huq, after investigators found evidence of illegal financial activities involving more than Tk653 crore.
The order was issued on Monday by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Foyez, acting on a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The move comes as part of an ongoing probe into what officials describe as one of the most extensive cases of financial misconduct tied to abuse of political power in recent years.
According to the ACC’s case file, Towfika allegedly misused her proximity to the former minister by influencing judicial processes, arranging court bail for accused individuals, engaging in recruitment trade, and lobbying for transfers of officials.
Investigators allege that these activities generated massive sums of illicit wealth. Court documents reveal that Tk653.36 crore was deposited across the 114 accounts operated under Towfika’s name as well as through associates. Of this, Tk566.38 crore was withdrawn, leaving a current balance of around Tk86.98 crore.
The ACC further stated that the money was used to purchase luxury flats, cars, and land properties, while a portion was laundered abroad through organised channels.
The commission argued that freezing the accounts was critical to prevent further illegal transfers and to secure the government’s authority to confiscate assets once charges are formally proven.
The petition categorised Towfika’s actions as clear violations under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, which criminalises the illegal accumulation and transfer of funds domestically and internationally.
The ACC’s special investigation team is now examining the network of associates and institutions that may have facilitated Towfika’s financial dealings.
Officials suggested that the scale of the transactions points to a highly coordinated scheme of corruption and money laundering, potentially involving cross-border links.
Legal analysts say the court’s swift order underscores the judiciary’s increasing willingness to cooperate with anti-graft authorities in freezing suspicious assets before they vanish overseas.
