NBR seeks freeze of 225 bank accounts

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has asked banks and financial institutions to freeze the accounts of around 100 people and 125 companies over allegations that their money may have been used to create unrest in the country's garment sector. 

The move is aimed at checking whether funds from these individuals and businesses were used to finance activities that disrupted the industry.

The NBR's Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) and Income Tax Intelligence and Investigation Unit began the move on Wednesday, according to officials.

The list includes several former ministers, lawmakers and influential businesspeople who were linked to the ousted Awami League government.

Among them are former commerce minister and Sepal Group founder Tipu Munshi; Salman F Rahman, founder of Beximco Group and former adviser to then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on industry and private investment; former lawmaker and Envoy Group Managing Director Abdus Salam Murshedy; and former state minister for foreign affairs and Renaissance Group owner Shahriar Alam.

Other names on the list include former state minister for power and energy Nasrul Hamid Bipu, former local government minister Tajul Islam, Tusuka Group Managing Director Fayzur Rahman Badal, Well Group founder Abdus Salam, Nipa Group Managing Director Khasru Chowdhury and Standard Group Managing Director AKM Mosharraf Hossain.

*    Sepal Group founder Tipu Munshi
*    Beximco Group founder Salman F Rahman
*    Ex-MP and Envoy Group MD Salam Murshedy
*    Renaissance Group owner Shahriar Alam
*    Ex-minister Nasrul Hamid Bipu
*    Ex-minister Tajul Islam
*    Tusuka Group MD Fayzur Rahman Badal
*    Well Group founder Abdus Salam
*    Nipa Group MD Khasru Chowdhury

The list also includes former BGMEA president SM Mannan Kochi, former lawmaker Ilias Uddin Mollah, Axis Knitwears Ltd Director Zahid Ahmed Tulu and Givency Group Chairman Masuma Khatun Lipa.

The NBR has also sent letters to banks asking them to freeze the accounts of family members of some of the people named in the list.

A senior NBR official said the move was based on information provided by several government agencies. The authorities have identified the bank accounts and taken steps to freeze them.

Asked about the reasons behind the move, the official said the individuals and businesses were accused of financing activities that created unrest in the garment sector. The financial records are being examined to check whether these allegations are true.

Some of the people named in the list are currently in jail, while others are believed to be outside the country or on the run.

However, the NBR investigation into the allegations is still under way. Officials said the list could grow as the investigation continues.

They could not say when the investigation would be completed. They described the process as ongoing.