The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has requested to freeze all personal lockers of Bangladesh Bank officials. The letter regarding this matter was sent to the Governor of the central bank last Sunday by ACC Director Kazi Saemujjaman.
Sources say that the ACC suspects these lockers hold undisclosed large sums of money and assets. These lockers have been allocated to both current and retired officers and employees of Bangladesh Bank. The commission believes these assets have been accumulated through misuse of power, irregularities, and corruption, which goes against the ACC law.
The letter from the ACC mentions that on January 30, ACC Chairman Dr. Mohammad Abdul Momen met with Finance Advisor Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed at the Secretariat to discuss the commission’s activities and asset recovery. During the meeting, the issue of assets stored in the Bangladesh Bank vault was also discussed, and the Finance Advisor gave consent to freeze the contents of the lockers.
The ACC letter further mentions that during the investigation, the locker registry was examined, revealing sealed lockers belonging to current and retired officers and employees of Bangladesh Bank. These lockers may contain undisclosed assets in sealed quantities. Additionally, investigations are ongoing against various officials of Bangladesh Bank regarding illegal asset accumulation, money laundering, and other allegations. In this context, the ACC has requested necessary measures to be taken to prevent anyone from accessing the special lockers containing items stored in the bank’s vault.
Liberty News’ economy correspondent reports that the ACC submitted a request to the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge and Senior Special Judge on Monday for permission to open those lockers at the central bank and create a list of the assets stored inside. A ruling on this request is expected to be given today, Tuesday.
LND/SAKIB
