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Published : 19 Nov 2025, 09:42 PM
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has requested documents from Eastern Bank over allegations that its Chairman Showkat Ali Chowdhury, and his family were involved in bank transactions worth Tk 80 billion, irregularities, abuse of power, and money laundering abroad through shell companies.
The ACC sent a letter to the bank on Sunday as part of the inquiry launched earlier.
On Wednesday, the national anti-graft agency’s Deputy Director Akhtarul Islam said the inquiry officer will take all “necessary steps” at this stage.
He added that the inquiry process usually involves measures such as travel bans, asset freezes, and blocking bank accounts, which will be taken gradually as required.
Earlier, on Nov 6, the ACC formed a three-member team headed by Deputy Director Mostafizur Rahman to look into the allegations against the EBL chairman.
In the letter sent to EBL, the ACC sought account opening forms (with all related records), transaction details from the opening date until now, and copies of national identity cards, TINs, and passports of Showkat, his wife, and children, as well as any entities owned or linked to them.
The commission also asked for loan-related records, including applications, branch recommendations, approval documents, and loan account summaries for any borrowings taken in their personal names or through entities they own or are associated with.
The bank has been given seven working days to submit the required documents, the letter said.
A formal complaint against Showkat reached the ACC on Oct 14, while the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) froze all bank accounts belonging to him and his family members on Jun 30, around two and a half months before the complaint was lodged.
Attempts to reach Showkat were unsuccessful.
