Court orders seizure of Tarique Siddique, brother's assets

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of properties worth Tk 150 million belonging to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Defence Adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique and his brother Shafique Ahmed Siddique. 

The court also appointed a receiver to manage the assets.

Senior Special Judge Md Zakir Hossain Galib passed the order on Tuesday following a petition by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Md Monirul Islam.

The seized properties include 17 decimals of land from Shafique Siddique's holdings in Gazipur, excluding the portion already sold and half of a 10-storey building constructed on 19.5 decimals of land owned by Tarique Siddique, situated on a total land area of 67 decimals.

According to ACC, an ongoing inquiry is investigating allegations of amassing wealth beyond known sources of income. 

During the probe, the authorities found evidence suggesting attempts to transfer or dispose of the assets, prompting concerns of obstruction to the investigation.

The court ordered the seizure and appointed a receiver to preserve the assets until the inquiry concludes. 

MAL/SH