Court orders ACC to freeze 70 bank accounts of Nasrul Hamid

Published : Sunday, 20 April, 2025 at 5:23 PM Count : 135

A Dhaka court today ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to freeze 70 bank accounts of Nasrul Hamid, former state minister for power and energy, in a case filed over acquiring Tk 36.37 crore illegally.

The court also ordered confiscation of three cars and four flats owned by the former lawmaker. The flats are located at the capital's Ramna and Banani areas.

Judge Md Zakir Hossain of Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court passed the order after ACC Assistant Director Minhaz Bin Islam, who is leading the inquiry team, submitted an application in this regard.

In the application, the ACC official said they learned from credible sources that the accused has been attempting to transfer his properties. Therefore, an order is needed to prevent him from doing so, the official said.

On December 26 last year, the ACC filed three cases against Nasrul Hamid, his wife Seema Hamid, and his son Zarif Hamid for allegedly amassing illegal assets worth over Tk 64 crore.

In the cases, Nasrul faces charges for acquiring Tk 36.37 crore in illegal assets, while Zarif and Seema are accused of unlawfully holding Tk 20.87 crore and Tk 6.94 crore, respectively. The investigation revealed that Zarif operated 13 bank accounts where Tk 7.84 crore had been deposited, with Tk 5.82 crore withdrawn. Seema, meanwhile, maintained 20 accounts, which saw deposits of Tk 12.78 crore and withdrawals of Tk 11.18 crore.

Shortly after the fall of the Awami League government, law enforcement agencies raided a Banani property owned by Nasrul. The operation yielded Tk 1 crore in cash, a firearm, and 50 rounds of ammunition, fuelling further allegations of financial impropriety.

A damning report from a White Paper Committee on the state of the economy has implicated the power sector in rampant corruption. The report estimates that $30 billion has been invested in the sector since 2010, with at least $3 billion siphoned off as kickbacks — 10 percent of the project costs allegedly funnelled as commissions.

The report stated that nepotism and corruption at the top filtered down into every project. Allegations centred on power plant contracts being awarded in exchange for hefty commissions.

FP/MI