The High Court today sought information including the names and identities of Bangladesh Bank officials who worked from 2008 to 2020. The High Court also wanted an explanation of why they failed to stop money laundering abroad.
The court also ordered the authorities concerned of Bangladesh Bank to submit a report in this matter within February 15.
The High Court bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and justice Mohiuddin Shamim passed the order on Thursday.
Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik confirmed the matter to the media.
Earlier on November 18 last year, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said he was surprised to see the number of government officials who siphoned money off to Toronto in Canada, outnumbering politicians.
Earlier on November 22, 2020, the High Court sought information including the names and identities of the money launderers from the authorities concerned.
On December 9 of last year, the HC ordered the authorities concerned to provide an update to the court on the steps taken to bring back and arrest Proshanta Kumar Halder alias PK Halder.
Earlier on December 3, 2020, the HC said that all the corrupt figures and money launderers including Proshanta Kumar Halder must be brought to justice no matter how influential they are.
The HC also asked the ACC to submit the First Information Report (FIR) against PK Halder, the order to seize his property and the arrest warrant issued by the lower court against him.
On November 18, the High Court wanted to know the steps taken to bring International Leasing and Finance Service Limited (ILFSL) Director PK Halder back. The ACC submitted a report in this regard stating that they had contacted the Interpol.
On September 7 of last year, PK Halder filed an appeal seeking permission for his safe return to the country. He is accused of illegally amassing 3,600 crore taka and laundering it abroad while performing his duties as the ILFSL director.
On January 8, the ACC also filed a case against him for acquiring wealth worth nearly 275 crore taka beyond his known sources of income. In his appeal, Halder said he wanted to come back to Bangladesh to help the authorities to recover the embezzled money of ILFSL.
On January 22, 2020, the High Court ordered the government to confiscate properties of Halder and 19 others including his mother, wife, and brother apart from freezing their bank accounts and revoking their passports.
After hearing the appeals of the seven investors of ILFSL, the court also imposed restrictions so that they cannot go abroad. However, Halder managed to flee to Canada.
nh/teb
