The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has directed banks to freeze the accounts of Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader and his spouse.  

It has also asked banks and financial institutions to submit reports on the latest balances in these accounts, according to an NBR letter issued today.  

In a separate letter, the tax authority instructed banks to provide details of all personal and business accounts held by Quader, his wife, his daughter Ishrat Jahan Quader, and his son-in-law Mahfuz Ahmed, an actor.  

The NBR has also sought transaction records dating back to July 1, 2017, with banks required to submit the information within seven working days.  

Banks have been warned of penalties for non-compliance with the directive.  

"We have taken steps as part of our investigation into allegations of tax evasion," said a senior NBR official, seeking anonymity.  

Last week, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) said it had found preliminary evidence against Quader related to money laundering under various names, bribery in the nomination process for reserved women's parliamentary seats, and "position trading" within the party.  

In response to The Daily Star earlier, Quader denied the allegations, saying they were first raised in 2018 during the ousted Awami government's tenure.  

He said that at the time, Hussain Muhammad Ershad was the party chairman and responsible for political and policy decisions.  

Quader served as commerce and civil aviation minister from 2009 to 2014 during the first term of the Awami League government, which was toppled in a mass uprising last August.