Dhaka: The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has seized and frozen assets worth more than Taka 2,271 crore both domestically and internationally in January this year following court orders. The information was revealed in the ACC’s monthly report, shared by Deputy Director (Public Relations) of the commission Md. Akhtarul Islam.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the ACC’s monthly report indicated that 29 court orders in January led to the submission of lists of movable and immovable properties to the commission. Among these, 22 orders pertained to asset seizures, while 11 involved asset freezing.
The monthly report detailed that within Bangladesh, the ACC seized 69.26 acres of land, four buildings, six apartments, two shops, one commercial space, one fixed deposit receipt (FDR), six vehicles, and one insurance policy. The total value of these seized assets amounted to Tk 44,69,78,623. Additionally, balances totaling Taka 8,17,65,913 were discovered in 79 bank and savings accounts, with two BO (beneficiary owner) accounts and shares valued at Taka 12 lakh also frozen. The combined value of frozen domestic assets reached Taka 8,50,60,313.
Internationally, significant immovable properties were seized, including 44 apartments in the United States, two in the Philippines, and nine in India. Other assets frozen include 47 commercial spaces in Malaysia, 117 properties in Cambodia, 23 properties in Thailand, and 59 properties in the United Arab Emirates. Furthermore, 33 apartments were seized in Singapore and other countries. The overall value of seized and frozen international assets equated to Taka 2,216,68,60,643.20.
Additionally, an investment valued at 100,000 US dollars was seized abroad, amounting to Taka 1,22,26,000 based on an exchange rate of 122.26.
Throughout January, the ACC filed 76 first information reports (FIRs) against 467 individuals, submitted 36 charge sheets against 110 individuals, and provided final reports (FRs) in nine cases exempting 11 individuals. The commission also initiated 92 new inquiries, closed 19 cases, and issued 38 asset statement notices.
The ACC affirmed that efforts to identify, attach, and preserve illegally acquired assets continue in accordance with court directives.