Bangladesh court imposes travel ban on 26 former officials amid corruption allegations

By Faisal Mahmud

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) - A Bangladeshi court has imposed a travel ban on 17 former ministers and 9 former members of parliament from the ousted Sheikh Hasina government. The officials are accused of irregularities and corruption.

The ruling follows the downfall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on Aug. 5, amid a massive student-led uprising. Hasina fled to neighboring India, while several top officials face a range of legal issues, including corruption and murder charges.

Senior Special Judge Mohammad Aslamul Haque of Dhaka Metropolitan Court issued the travel ban on Monday afternoon after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a petition. The ACC’s public prosecutors, Mir Ahmed Ali Salam and Mahmood Hossain Jahangir, confirmed the travel restrictions.

Public Prosecutor Salam stated that the ACC is investigating allegations against the former officials, who are accused of amassing "unimaginable illegal wealth" through various forms of misconduct and corruption. The ACC discovered that some of these individuals were attempting to leave the country, prompting the court's intervention.

Salam emphasized, "The 26 former ministers and lawmakers are at risk of fleeing the country. Therefore, a travel ban is necessary to prevent their departure."

Among those affected by the travel ban are prominent figures such as former Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud and former Law Minister Anisul Huq. Last Sunday, a similar travel ban was imposed on former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, along with his family and ten other individuals.