Anisul Huq’s sister-in-law Jebunnesa’s bank account ordered frozen

A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of a bank account held in the name of Jebunnesa Begum Huq, wife of former law minister Anisul Huq’s younger brother, over allegations of corruption.

The order was issued by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Shahjahan Kabir today (29 September) following an application by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Tanjir Ahmed, assistant director of the ACC’s public relations department, confirmed.

ACC Deputy Director and investigation officer Md Jahangir Alam filed the application on behalf of the commission.

According to the ACC application, a case was filed against Anisul Huq and others named during the investigation over allegations of criminal misconduct, abuse of power, and acquiring and possessing assets in their own names and in the names of people associated with their interests through dishonest means.

Between 2014 and 2024, they allegedly acquired assets worth Tk146 crore 19 lakh 70 thousand 96 that were inconsistent with their known sources of income.

The case also alleges suspicious transactions through 29 bank accounts, involving deposits of Tk349 crore 15 lakh 21 thousand 582 and withdrawals of Tk316 crore 48 lakh 81 thousand 608.

The ACC said that during the investigation, information was found indicating that Anisul Huq and investigation-linked accused Mohammad Iqbal, Sheikh Md Iftekharul Islam and Jebunnesa Begum Huq had acquired assets worth Tk172 crore 24 lakh 32 thousand 941 beyond their known sources of income.

The accused also allegedly conducted unusual and suspicious transactions through 23 bank accounts, depositing a total of Tk375 crore 50 lakh 99 thousand 452 and withdrawing Tk361 crore 73 lakh 27 thousand 129.

The ACC said the accused were attempting to withdraw, transfer, or misappropriate money deposited in their bank accounts through illegal means.

It said freezing Jebunnesa Begum Huq’s bank account was necessary for the proper investigation of the case.

According to the application, if the bank account is not frozen, the money may not be possible to confiscate in favour of the state during the trial, potentially causing irreparable loss to the state.

According to court documents, Tk4 crore 89 lakh 63 thousand 276 was deposited in the account held in Jebunnesa Begum Huq’s name at Dutch-Bangla Bank PLC’s Banani branch.