Court orders freezing of 203 accounts of Sikder Group 

A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of 203 bank accounts belonging to the family of late Sikder Group founder Zainul Haque Sikder, in connection with an ongoing Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigation into alleged financial irregularities and money laundering.

The order, issued on April 30 by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib, follows a petition by ACC investigator Kamiyab Aftahi Un Nabi. The frozen accounts include 189 domestic and 14 foreign accounts held by family members and affiliated entities.

According to the ACC, domestic accounts include those of Zainul's wife Monowara Sikder, sons Ron Haque Sikder and Momtazul Haque, grandchildren-in-laws, and several Sikder Group-related firms, collectively holding approximately Tk 11.1 million.

The 14 overseas accounts, held in 12 National Bank branches and two Commercial Bank of Ceylon branches, are owned by Monowara Sikder and several descendants, with balances totalling US$ 2.7 million.

The ACC stated that the family, most of who currently reside abroad, is suspected of attempting to liquidate or transfer movable assets. The account freeze is intended to prevent further dissipation of alleged illicit wealth.