Ex-UK envoy Muna, family members barred from leaving country

The ACC is investigating allegations that Touhidul Islam Chowdhury, chairman of Generation Next Fashions Ltd, and others, allegedly acting in collusion, misappropriated around Tk 2,000 crore obtained as loans from various banks and financial institutions and transferred the money abroad.

According to the ACC application, investigators have received information that the individuals named in the allegations may leave the country. Their departure could hamper the investigation, the commission said.

The travel ban covers four members of the family: Touhidul Islam Chowdhury; his wife Saida Muna Tasneem, a former Bangladesh high commissioner to the UK; their child Alati Azfar Chowdhury; and Javed Opgen Hepen.

The ACC said its investigation into the alleged loan-related embezzlement is ongoing.

In its application, the anti-graft agency said restricting the individuals from leaving Bangladesh was necessary to ensure a proper investigation and to prevent them from fleeing abroad.

After considering the application, the court ordered that the four individuals be barred from travelling overseas.

The allegations remain under investigation, and the court's travel restriction does not itself constitute a finding of guilt.