A Dhaka court has imposed a travel ban on former Dhaka North City Corporation mayor Atiqul Islam, who is currently in jail after being arrested in a case linked to the July Uprising, over allegations of corruption.
The ban also applies to his wife, Shaila Shagufta Islam, and their daughter, Bushra Afreen.
The order was issued on Wednesday by Judge Md Sabbir Faiz of the Dhaka Senior Special Judge’s Court following an application filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), according to ACC Public Relations Officer Tanzir Ahmed.
On behalf of the ACC, Deputy Director Md Saiduazzaman submitted the application seeking the travel ban.
According to the application, investigations are underway into allegations against Atiqul Islam and others involving abuse of power, irregularities in tender processes, misuse of public funds through the procurement of mosquito larva control spraying equipment, corruption, and money laundering.
The ACC said the investigation found that Atiqul Islam and his family members own assets disproportionate to their known sources of income in various parts of the country, including areas outside Dhaka, as well as abroad, including in Canada and the United States.
It alleged that they are attempting to leave the country and transfer both movable and immovable assets, and that if they were to flee abroad, there is a strong possibility the investigation would be hampered. In the interest of a proper investigation, the application said, it was necessary to prohibit their foreign travel.
Atiqul Islam was arrested on October 16, 2024, from the DOHS area in Mohakhali. Since then, he has been shown arrested in several cases and placed on remand.
