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Published : 18 Feb 2025, 08:28 PM
A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of a flat in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and the freezing of investments in six UK-based companies under the names of the family members of Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan.
Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Zakir Hossain Galib delivered the order on Tuesday following a plea filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission, or ACC.
ACC Assistant Director Aminul Islam said the application was filed by the agency’s Deputy Director Nazmul Hossain, which the court approved after a hearing.
According to the order, investments linked to Sobhan’s family in the UK include €5,000 in Slovakian firm Calcatronic Holding under the name of his son Bashundhara Group Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir.
Another €5,000 is in Slovakian firm GAGAGUGU, while £1,000 worth of shares are in Worldera Corporation Limited.
Anvir also holds £5,000 worth of shares in ASWA Holdings Limited.
His wife, Sabrina Sobhan, has £5,000 worth of shares in EuroAsia Television Network Limited, while his brother, Bashundhara Director Safwan Sobhan Tasvir, has investments in Global Multi Trade Limited.
In addition, the court ordered the seizure of a flat under Anvir’s name on the 11th floor of Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
The court also ordered the seizure of Anvir’s flat on the 11th floor of Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
The ACC application says an investigation is under way into allegations of illegal wealth accumulation and money laundering against Sobhan and his family.
“They are accused of loan fraud, embezzlement, acquiring illegal assets, transferring funds, and laundering money. Documents indicate that prime suspect Sobhan, his wife Afroza Begum, their sons Anvir, Sadat Sobhan’s wife Sonia Ferdous Sobhan, and sons Safiat Sobhan and Safwan Sobhan, along with Safwan’s wife Yasha Sobhan, are all involved.”
“They have accumulated vast sums through criminal activities and laundered the money abroad to acquire properties.”
The ACC alleged that Sobhan’s family members took out substantial loans from various banks under company names, with portions of the funds illegally transferred overseas and invested in companies in Slovakia, Dubai, and the UK.
The court filing states, “As Bangladeshi citizens, they were required to obtain prior approval from Bangladesh Bank before transferring capital abroad. However, no such approval was sought.”
“They are also legally obligated to declare all income and assets in their tax returns.
“However, they failed to disclose the funds invested in these foreign companies and assets, clearly indicating that these investments were made using illicit proceeds.”
