Bank accounts of Mintoo, family unfrozen after 17 years

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has directed all banks to unfreeze the accounts of BNP vice chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo, his wife Nasreen Fatema Awal, and their son,Tabith Awal after keeping the accounts blocked for 17 years.  

The Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) instructed all banks to unfreeze their bank accounts on Thursday (22 August), according to a notice issued by the NBR cell.

Earlier on August 1 in 2007, the NBR's Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) ordered banks to freeze the accounts of Mintoo, his spouse Nasreen Awal Mintoo and his son Tabith Awal.

The tax detective office issued the freeze order based on a recommendation from a panel established by the Army-backed caretaker government at that time, according to a senior NBR official.

In the same month of 2007, the CIC also froze the bank accounts of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. 

Last week, following a request from her lawyer, the NBR lifted the freeze on Khaleda Zia's accounts.

"Mintoo himself applied to us to unfreeze his accounts," said a senior official of the NBR.

The NBR in its letter in August 2007 ordered banks to block withdrawal or transfers of money from all active and dormant accounts owned individually or jointly by Mintoo.

At that time, the CIC also blocked the withdrawal or transfers of funds from vaults, lockers, savings certificates; and other savings instruments they owned.

In a letter to banks on 22 August this year, the NBR lifted the restriction.

The decision came more than two weeks after the fall of Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in a mass uprising on 5 August.