BFIU seeks bank account details of Sheikh Hasina, Rehana

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has ordered all banks to submit information on the bank accounts of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her younger sister Sheikh Rehana.

In an order issued yesterday (9 December), the central bank agency asked the banks to submit all the account details and related documents within five workdays, according to information disclosed today (10 December).

Along with the account information about the two daughters of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, BFIU also sought account details of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust from the banks.

Regarding the trust's account, the banks must submit information on where the money came from, how the funds were spent, whether any cash withdrawals were made, and the specific transactions involved.

The trust, located at the Bangabandhu Bhaban on Dhanmondi Road 32, has had Hasina as its chairperson and Rehana as one of the trustees since it was established.

BFIU also told the banks to submit details about other individuals associated with the trust and any accounts to which funds from the trust were transferred.

Hasina's autocratic rule ended on 5 August when the Awami League government was ousted in a nationwide mass uprising led by students, which forced her to resign and flee to India with Rehana.

Since then, the two sisters have been living in a safe house in New Delhi's Lutyens Bungalow Zone, which was arranged for her by the Indian government, according to Indian media reports.

Since 5 August, BFIU has ordered the freezing of bank accounts of nearly 500 individuals and organisations, with a total of Tk14,500 crore deposited in these accounts, according to media reports.

While this list included several members of Hasina and Rehana's families, this is the first time BFIU has sought information about the two sisters.

Meanwhile, BFIU, in yesterday's order, also asked for account details of sports commentator Chowdhury Jafarullah Sharafat, his brother Chowdhury Habibullah Sharafat, and his mother Dalia Chowdhury from the banks within five workdays as well.

Earlier, on 25 August, BFIU ordered the freezing of the accounts of Jafrullah's brother Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat, his wife Anjuman Ara Shahid and son Rahib Safwan Sarafat Chowdhury.

A series of account freezes occurred after Hasina fled to India. Since her administration's ouster, the bank accounts of many ministers, MPs, AL leaders, and businessmen affiliated with AL have been frozen.

Back on 30 September, BFIU ordered banks to freeze all accounts of Hasina's son Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Hossain Putul, and Rehana's son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby.

Along with them, it had also ordered the freeze of all accounts of Awami League's research cell Center for Research and Information (CRI), CRI-Young Bangla Project and former state minister for power Nasrul Hamid.

On 28 August, the anti-money laundering agency ordered all banks to freeze the accounts of Hasina first cousin and former Awami League lawmaker Sheikh Salim; and his wife Fatema Selim; son and former FBCCI president Sheikh Fazle Fahim; son Sheikh Sheikh Nayeem; and daughter Amina Sultana Sonia.

On 7 October, BFIU also ordered the freezing of all accounts of former Dhaka South City Corporation mayor and Hasina's nephew Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, his wife Afrin Taposh and their younger son Fazle Nashwan.

Two days later, BFIU asked banks to freeze nine accounts of Hasina's cousin Sheikh Salahuddin Jewel and his family members, including Shahana Yasmin, Sheikh Jalal Uddin Rubel, Sheikh Sohel Uddin, Sheikh Tasmia Sunerah, Tahmina Kabir, Sheikh Belal Uddin Babu, Sheikh Fardin Naser, and Sheikh Wahida Sultana.

After hearing a petition on 1 September, the High Court also issued a rule asking about the amount of money spent by the state for safeguarding the family members of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman under the Protection of Family Members of the Father of the Nation Act 2009.

The court also sought information about benefits Sheikh Mujib's family members had availed of and properties they received as special benefits and asked why the facilities and properties allotted to them should not be withdrawn.