The Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge, Zakir Hossain, issued an order on Sunday to seize and freeze assets belonging to former Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Md. Tajul Islam, as well as assets under the names of entities connected to him. The order came following separate petitions submitted by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged accumulation of wealth beyond known sources of income.

According to the ACC’s submission, Tajul Islam is accused of acquiring immovable and movable assets worth Tk 7.80 crore that are inconsistent with his declared income. Authorities have seized a total of 9.45 acres of land located in Dhaka, Cumilla, and Narayanganj. Additionally, two commercial spaces, one apartment, and a shop in Cumilla have also been seized.

Moreover, 34 bank accounts held by Tajul Islam and institutions affiliated with him have been frozen, involving deposits totaling Tk 20.56 crore. Besides these, the ACC reported the existence of shares worth Tk 5.23 crore in 16 different companies and three vehicles valued at Tk 2.60 crore. Together, the total movable assets now frozen amount to Tk 28.39 crore.

The petition presented by ACC Assistant Director Abu Mohammad Anwarul Masud stated that Tajul Islam conducted suspicious financial transactions involving Tk 139.74 crore. This includes deposits of Tk 73.62 crore and withdrawals of Tk 66.12 crore from various accounts. The ACC further alleged that there were attempts to transfer these funds and assets, which necessitated urgent legal measures to prevent their dissipation.

In a separate development, the same court issued a travel ban on former Deputy Minister for Water Resources and ex-MP from Shariatpur-2 constituency, A.K.M. Enamul Haque Shamim, along with 18 others. This order followed a petition by ACC Assistant Director Ashiqur Rahman in connection with a loan fraud case involving National Bank Limited.

According to the ACC, the accused individuals misused their authority and committed criminal breach of trust by orchestrating a fraudulent loan scheme. The group allegedly facilitated the approval and disbursement of Tk 300 crore in loans and subsequently defaulted, leading to total liabilities amounting to Tk 583.13 crore including interest.

The travel ban includes prominent individuals such as Ron Haque Sikder, Rick Haque Sikder, and other business associates and stakeholders involved in the financial irregularities. The ACC noted that the accused might attempt to flee the country, which would obstruct the ongoing investigation. Hence, the court found it necessary to prohibit them from traveling abroad to ensure the proper conduct of the inquiry.

These developments are part of the ACC’s intensified efforts to clamp down on high-profile corruption and financial misconduct. The commission emphasized that the measures taken are aimed at protecting public interest and ensuring accountability in the handling of public resources.