Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit on Tuesday froze the bank accounts of Major General (retired) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former security adviser to deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and his wife Shaheen Siddique.
The unit also froze the bank accounts of Sikder Group owners and family members on the same day.
The anti-money laundering intelligence sent a letter to all banks and non-bank financial institutions to comply with the instruction immediately.
Tarique Siddique, now facing arrest warrant issued by the International Crimes Tribunal against 46 persons, had effective control over the country鈥檚 armed forces and intelligence agencies and allegedly involved in some disappearance incidents.
He was considered one聽聽 of the most influential members of Awami League government. His brother is married to Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 sister, Sheikh Rehana.
On October 17, the ICT issued arrest warrants against 46 people including former PM and Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, senior AL leaders and police official, for allegedly committing crimes against humanity during the July-August uprising.
Sheikh Hasina as prime minister resigned on August 5 and fled to India amid student-led mass civil uprising.
The Sikder group鈥檚 owners and their associates allegedly accumulated huge assets at home and abroad due to their close connection with the Awami League.
The banks were asked to freeze bank accounts in the name of Monowara Sikder, and former chairman of National Bank and wife of founding group chairman late Zainul Haque Sikder.
The bank accounts of their five sons 鈥� Rick Haque Sikder, Ron Haque Sikder, Dipu Haque Sikder, Nick Haque Sikder, Mamtazul Haque Sikder, and three daughters 鈥� Nasim Haque Sikder, Parveen Haque Sikder and Lisa Fatema Haque Sikder were also frozen.
Bank accounts of all of them except Nick were frozen on the day.
In addition, their other family members Shon Haque Sikder, John Haque Sikder, Monica Sikder Khan, Jeffrey Khan Sikder and Mandy Khan Sikder also faced the same fate.
Dipu Haque Sikder and Ron Haque Sikder fled Bangladesh on May 25, 2020 after they allegedly tried to force a bank official to provide them a large loan.
Due to various irregularities, Sikder group lost its control over National Bank on May 7, 2024 as the central bank dissolved the board and appointed S Alam group connected individuals as board members.
The BFIU letter stated that any bank accounts operated in the name of these individuals or their companies are to have transactions suspended under the Anti-Money Laundering Act for 30 days.
Banks and financial institutions have been instructed to submit information regarding their bank accounts (account opening forms, KYC, and transaction details), ongoing loan details (customer name, loan account number, current status, classification), suspicious import or export bills, and locker-related information to the BFIU within two business days.
