A Dhaka court has ordered to seize of 304.59 acres of land and to freeze of multiple assets belonging to Fawzia Islam, wife of former Local Government Minister Md. Tazul Islam, in connection with a graft and money laundering investigation.
On Tuesday, April 15, Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Zakir Hossain Galib passed the order following a petition by Abu Mohammad Anwarul Masud, Deputy Director of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
The frozen assets include 12 bank accounts with a total balance of Tk 14.2 million and shares in 14 companies valued at Tk 31.9 million, bringing the total movable asset value to over Tk 46.1 million.
Immovable assets seized include a flat and land in Dhaka’s Gulshan area, one-third ownership of a four-storied house in Chattogram's Halishahar and 304.59 acres of land acquired through lease and preliminary deeds at Lama upazila of Bandarban district.
According to ACC, Fawzia Islam is accused of illegally amassing wealth worth Tk 69 million inconsistent with known sources of income.
It is also alleged that her husband, Md. Tazul Islam, assisted in acquiring these assets using illicit earnings.
The ACC claims that over Tk 271 million was deposited and withdrawn from 11 suspicious bank accounts under Fawzia Islam’s name, prompting concerns of money laundering under the Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2012, and the ACC Act, 2004.
Earlier, on April 13, the court also ordered to seize of 28.63 bighas of land and several commercial properties in Dhaka, Cumilla and Narayanganj registered in Tazul Islam’s name.
Additionally, 50 bank accounts and investments totaling BDT 280 million were frozen.
An investigation is ongoing in this regard.
MAL/SH
