A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure and freezing of movable and immovable assets belonging to former Janata Bank PLC chairman Dr Abul Barkat over allegations of illegally sanctioning loans to various companies and acquiring assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Shahjahan Kabir passed the order on Wednesday following an application filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) investigating officer and Assistant Director Mohammad Shahjahan Miraj.
The assets include an investment of Tk2.5 lakh in the Dhaka University Teachers’ Housing Project and two flats in Mohammadpur and Dhanmondi. A vehicle valued at Tk29 lakh and funds held in bank accounts in his name have also been frozen.
According to court documents, the ACC is conducting an inquiry into allegations that Barkat illegally provided loans to various institutions and acquired assets inconsistent with his known sources of income.
The application said the inquiry had so far uncovered immovable assets worth Tk49.61 lakh and movable assets worth Tk3.50 crore and $10,250 in his name.
It further said information obtained from various sources indicated that Barkat was attempting to sell or transfer assets linked to the allegations.
The ACC argued that any transfer, conversion or sale of the allegedly illegal assets before the inquiry is concluded could cause significant financial loss to the state.
It therefore sought the immediate seizure and freezing of the assets under Section 14 of the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2012 and Rule 18 of the Anti-Corruption Commission Rules 2007.
The application also said freezing the assets was necessary to prevent their transfer or disposal before the allegations are resolved.
Barkat was arrested from his Dhanmondi residence on July 10, 2025, in an ACC case. After securing bail in that case, he was shown arrested in a case over the killing of businessman Wadud in connection with the July uprising.
He was later granted bail in that case and released from jail on June 20.
