A Dhaka court has imposed a travel ban on former Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury, along with his wife Rehan Chowdhury, sons Hamdad Hossain and Araz Alam, and daughters Raima Chowdhury and Alisha Babar Chowdhury, in connection with ongoing investigations into alleged corruption.
On Sunday (May 25), the order was issued by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Zakir Hossain Galib, following a petition submitted by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The ACC’s Deputy Director of Public Relations, Akhtarul Islam, confirmed the court’s directive.
According to the ACC’s petition, Saber Hossain Chowdhury is under investigation for allegedly using his political influence to engage in serious financial crimes and for acquiring a significant amount of both movable and immovable properties illegally.
The ACC noted that preliminary findings suggest Chowdhury and his family members own undisclosed assets not only across various locations in Bangladesh including outside Dhaka, but also in countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The commission stated that there is a credible risk the accused might flee the country and attempt to transfer or conceal their assets, which would hamper the ongoing inquiry. Therefore, the ACC requested and secured a court order to bar them from leaving the country to ensure the investigation proceeds without obstruction.
