Sheikh Parash and wife barred from leaving country

Following an application by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), a court has imposed a travel ban on Bangladesh Awami Jubo League Chairman Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash and his wife Nahid Sultana over allegations of money laundering and acquisition of illegal assets.

The order was passed on Thursday, 27 August, by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Mohammad Shahjahan Kabir following an application filed by the ACC.

On the same day, ACC Deputy Director A.K.M. Mahbubur Rahman, on behalf of the anti-graft agency, filed a petition seeking a ban on foreign travel for Parash and his wife, who are subjects of the investigation.

According to the application, an investigation is underway into allegations of money laundering and acquisition of illegal assets through large-scale transactions in bank accounts belonging to Parash, people linked to his interests, and related institutions.

The application further stated that, during the investigation, the ACC learned through confidential sources that the accused were attempting to flee abroad.

If they leave the country, there is a strong possibility that the investigation would be hampered, it said.

Therefore, in the interest of conducting a fair and proper investigation into the allegations, it is essential to prevent the accused from travelling abroad, the application added.