Court freezes 15 bank accounts of ex-food minister Qamrul

A Dhaka court today ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to freeze 15 bank accounts of former food minister Md Qamrul Islam in connection with a graft case.

Judge Md Zakir Hossain of Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court passed the order after ACC Assistant Director Minhaj Bin Islam, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted an application in this regard.

ACC Public Prosecutor Mahmud Hossain Jahangir moved the application on behalf of the anti-graft body.

In the application, the ACC official said that Qamrul Islam deposited Tk 15,18,15,465 in his 15 bank accounts. His bank records show transactions totaling Tk 21.18 crore across 15 accounts, raising suspicions of money laundering. Therefore, an order is needed to freeze those accounts to prevent further transactions.

Earlier, on December 23 last year, the ACC filed a case against Qamrul, his son Dr Tanzir Islam, and daughter Segupta Islam over amassing wealth illegally.

Qamrul Islam, a former Awami League lawmaker from Dhaka-2 constituency, is accused of illegally acquiring assets worth over Tk 6.29 crore.

According to ACC reports, Qamrul Islam's son holds unexplained assets of Tk 1.46 crore, while his daughter has Tk 1.10 crore in unexplained assets.

The commission suspects the family may possess further hidden or unnamed assets.

The ACC alleged that Qamrul Islam used his public office to acquire these assets during his tenure as Minister of Food and State Minister for Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs between 2009 and 2019.

Qamrul Islam, a senior leader of the ruling Awami League, has faced allegations of corruption in recruitment, transfers, and food imports during his tenure.

The ACC began its investigation into him in October last year.

On November 18 last year, DB arrested him in Dhaka's Uttara area. Later, he was placed on different terms of remand in different cases.