A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of 44 bank accounts belonging to former minister Amir Hossain Amu, his wife Sayeda Haque and their daughter Sumaiya Hossain.
These accounts collectively hold a sum of Tk18,39,92,574.
On Sunday, Judge Md Zakir Hossain Galib of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court issued the order in response to a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Among the frozen accounts, 15 are registered under Amir Hossain Amu's name, 13 under his wife Sayeda Haque's name and 15 under his daughter Sumaiya Hossain's name.
According to court sources, ACC Deputy Director Rezaul Karim submitted the petition, which was subsequently approved following a hearing.
The petition says that a significant allegation of corruption is currently under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
The former minister of Industries, Amir Hossain Amu, is accused of engaging in bribery for recruitment, manipulating tenders, committing irregularities and corruption in government development projects (including TR and Kabikha schemes), embezzling funds and laundering money abroad.
Additionally, he has allegedly amassed illegally acquired wealth under his name and those of his family members.
As the investigation is in its final stages, intelligence reports suggest that Amir Hossain Amu, along with his wife and daughter, who are currently absconding, intended to withdraw and transfer funds from their bank accounts.
To prevent the dissipation of illegally acquired movable assets, the court deemed it necessary to freeze their accounts.
Previously, on November 6, Amir Hossain Amu was arrested from the Dhanmondi area of the capital.
Since then, he has remained in custody.