The High Court (HC) has imposed a travel ban on 25 people including Lilaboti Halder, mother of former managing director of NRB Global Bank and Reliance Finance Proshanta Kumar Halder alias PK Halder, who is facing charges of amassing illegal wealth.
Former deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank SK Sur Chowdhury and International Leasing and Financial Services Ltd Chairman were also on the list, report BSS and bdnews24.com.
A High Court division bench comprising Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Ahmed Sohel passed the order on Tuesday after holding hearing on a petition filed by five depositors of People’s Leasing and Financial Service.
Lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan represented the Anti-Corruption Commission in the court, while Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik was the state counsel.
The judges also heard the authorities’ efforts to bring back PK Halder from abroad. The state and the ACC informed the court about the progress made in the case and the in the process of sending the arrest warrant issued against PK Halder to the Interpole.
The bench ordered officials concerned to take proper steps so that these 25 people cannot leave the country. The court also said the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) can quiz them as per law, if they find it necessary for the sake of investigation.
The five pleaders are- Nashid Kamal, daughter former chief justice Mustafa Kamal, valiant Freedom Fighter and former director of Dhaka University Physical Education Centre Showkatur Rahman, former ambassador Raziul Hasan, housewife Samia Binte Mahbub and one Md Tariqul Islam.
“The five depositors who suffered the financial losses submitted an affidavit to the court saying these 25 people are connected to PK Halder and were involved in money laundering,” the deputy attorney general told the reporters after the court hearing.
The anti-graft body on January 8, 2020, filed a case against Halder for amassing illegal wealth of around Taka 2.74 billion. He is accused of embezzling Taka 15.00 billion from the International Leasing and Financial Services Ltd. Halder has allegedly embezzled Taka 35.00 billion from different financial agencies.
Halder, who had spoken of his desire to return to Bangladesh from Canada, reversed his plan in October, saying he would not come back due to his illness.
