Court bans Independent TV CEO Shamsur Rahman from leaving Bangladesh

He is a flight risk, court told

A Dhaka court has barred Independent Television’s Editor-in-Chief and CEO M Shamsur Rahman from leaving the country amid an investigation into alleged involvement in the laundering of billions of taka linked to Beximco Group Vice-Chairman Salman F Rahman.

On Wednesday, Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib granted the order following an application from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

ACC spokesperson Akhtarul Islam confirmed the order to reporters later in the night.

The application was filed by ACC Deputy Director Muhammad Zainal Abedin, who is the team probing investigating against Salman Rahman.

It said credible sources had informed investigators that Shamsur could “flee abroad at any time” and that a travel ban was necessary “in the interest of a fair investigation”.

Salman, a former advisor to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and now in prison, holds significant shares in Independent Television.

He is accused of securing loans from several banks through irregular means and laundering vast sums overseas. The ACC and other government agencies are investigating the allegations.

The ACC has formed a five-strong team to examine allegations of stock market fraud, manipulation of placement shares, and misappropriation of hundreds of billions of taka from shareholders.

It is also probing claims that loans amounting to about Tk 360 billion were obtained from state-owned and private banks through undue influence, with large sums allegedly siphoned abroad.

The commission alleges that initial inquiries have linked Shamsur to the laundering of “hundreds of billions of taka”.

Attempts by reporters to reach Shamsur by phone and text message for comment were unsuccessful.