Court orders ACC to freeze 38 bank accounts of ex-air chief, family

A Dhaka court today directed the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to freeze 38 bank accounts belonging to former air chief marshal (retd) Shaikh Abdul Hannan, his wife Tahmida Begum, and their son Sheikh Labib Hannan over corruption allegations.

The total amount deposited in these accounts is Tk 1,18,34,322, according to court documents.

Judge Md Zakir Hossain of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court passed the order after ACC Deputy Director Md Tanjib Hasib Sarkar, who is leading the inquiry, submitted an application in this regard.

ACC Public Prosecutor Mahmud Hossain Jahangir moved the petition on behalf of the commission.

According to the petition, an inquiry team was formed to investigate allegations against Hannan involving abuse of power, bribery, mismanagement of state funds, irregularities in recruitment, and amassing wealth beyond known sources of income.

The ACC stated in its petition that the accused were allegedly attempting to transfer funds, which could hinder the investigation.

"If they transfer the properties, the inquiry into the allegations may be hampered. Therefore, a court order is required to prevent them from doing so," the commission said.

On May 6, the same court had ordered the freezing of six other bank accounts belonging to the former air chief and his family.

On the same day, it also ordered the confiscation of four flats and 4.75 kathas of immovable property located in Dhaka's Nikunja and Mirpur DOHS, as well as in Rupganj, Narayanganj.

Additionally, on May 5, the court issued a travel ban on Hannan, his first wife Tahmida Begum, his second wife Sanjida Akter, and their son Sheikh Labib Hannan in relation to the same corruption investigation.