Published : 08 May 2025, 04:33 AM
Updated : 21 Aug 2026, 12:56 PM
A Dhaka court has ordered a freeze on the shares of 94 companies owned by deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s advisor Salman F Rahman, his wife, son, brother, and nephew, along with 107 beneficiary owner (BO) accounts linked to them.
Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib passed the order on Wednesday, following a plea filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
According to the agency’s spokesperson Akhtarul Islam, ACC Deputy Director Md Zainal Abedin, the officer assigned to investigate the allegations against the family, had sought the freezing of these shares and BO accounts, which the court subsequently approved.
Of the 107 blocked BO accounts, 28 are linked to companies controlled by Salman while 79 are personally owned by him.
The national anti-graft agency, however, did not provide specific details about the number of shares held in these companies or their total value in the application.
The ACC is investigating allegations of "placement share manipulation and fraud" against Salman and other family members, which are said to have caused significant financial losses to shareholders.
Alongside Salman, the petition also implicates his wife Syeda Rubaba Rahman, his brother and Beximco Group Chairman Sohail F Rahman, his son Ahmed Shayan Fazlur Rahman, and his nephew Ahmed Shahriar Rahman.
The ACC claims the family used undue influence to secure loans amounting to nearly Tk 360 billion from both public and private banks, part of which was "embezzled and laundered abroad”.
The petition for freezing the shares and BO accounts revealed that information on these assets was found during the investigation, linking Salman, his family, close associates, and others.
Earlier, on Jan 23, a separate Dhaka court had ordered the attachment of assets owned by Salman and his family following a petition by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
In its latest application, the ACC said it had information that the suspects were attempting to transfer, convert, or otherwise dispose of the shares and BO accounts.
If successful, this would undermine any future legal proceedings, including prosecution, conviction, and confiscation of crime-derived assets.
The freeze was deemed “necessary” by the commission to ensure a fair investigation and proper adjudication.
