The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has directed banks and financial institutions to freeze the accounts of around 100 people accused of links to unrest in the readymade garment industry. The revenue authority has also sought details of bank transactions of about 125 organisations.
The move aims to establish whether money held by these individuals and organisations was used to create instability in the garment sector. An NBR source said two of the board’s intelligence units had written to banks and financial institutions, asking them to identify and freeze the accounts. The units have also asked for detailed transaction records of the 125 organisations.
Most of those on the list are linked to the ousted Awami League government. They include former ministers, lawmakers and influential businesspeople. Among the more notable names are Salman F Rahman, Nasrul Hamid, Abdus Salam Murshedy, Tipu Munshi, Shahriar Alam and Tajul Islam.
The businesspeople named include Faizur Rahman of Tusuka Group, Abdus Salam of Well Group, Khosru Chowdhury of Nipa Group and Mosharraf Hossain of Standard Group. SM Mannan Kochi, a former president of the BGMEA, the garment factory owners’ association, is also on the list. Members of their families are named as well.
According to the NBR source, Alif Molla, the husband of cricketer Shakib Al Hasan’s sister, is also on the list of accounts to be frozen. The source added that information on transactions through mobile banking and cryptocurrency has also been found.
An NBR official, who did not wish to be named, said the move was based on information provided by several government agencies. Asked why details were being sought from so many organisations, he said the individuals and organisations face allegations of financing activities aimed at causing unrest in the garment sector. The financial transactions are being examined to verify those allegations.
Some of those on the list are currently in jail, while others are on the run. The NBR’s investigation into the allegations against them has not been completed. Officials said the list could grow longer and described the work as an ongoing process. They could not say when the investigation would end.
A source at a commercial bank also said the lender was preparing to begin work on the basis of instructions received through Bangladesh Bank.
