Bashundhara Group chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, his son and the group鈥檚 managing director Sayem Sobhan Anvir and several family members sought 90 days to appear before the Anti-Corruption Commission in connection with an ongoing inquiry into allegations of land grabbing, embezzlement, and money laundering.
Bashundhara Group chairman and other family members submitted a time petition on Monday through their lawyer to the ACC, said the commission鈥檚 deputy director (Public Relations) Akterul Islam.
鈥楾hey have requested a 90-day time to appear before the commission but, as per the law, the ACC must complete its inquiry within 45 days, so whether the time extension will be granted depends on the inquiry officer of the probe,鈥� he added.
Earlier, the ACC summoned Bashundhara Group chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, his son and the group鈥檚 managing director Sayem Sobhan Anvir and several members of their family to ACC on May 25-26.
The ACC summoned them as part of an ongoing inquiry into allegations of land grabbing, embezzlement of money, and money laundering.
The ACC sent letters to Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, better known as Shah Alam, and his family members to appear at the commission鈥檚 headquarters in the capital鈥檚 Segun Bagicha area on May 25 and May 26.
The commission asked Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, his wife Afroza Begum, their eldest son Sadat Sobhan and Sadat鈥檚 wife Sonia Ferdousi Sobhan to appear at ACC on May 25.
The commission asked Sayem Sobhan Anvir, his wife Sabrina Sobhan, the group鈥檚 vice chairman Safiat Sobhan Sanvir, vice chairman Safwan Sobhan and Safwan鈥檚 wife Yasha Sobhan to appear on May 26.
ACC officials said the summonses were issued as part of an inquiry into allegations involving tax evasion, illegal land acquisition, embezzling of loan money, and money laundering.
In October 2024, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit froze the bank accounts of Ahmed Akbar Sobhan and his four sons while a Dhaka court imposed a travel ban on eight members of his family following a petition submitted by the ACC in the same month.
Following the fall of the Awami League regime on August 5, 2024, the ACC began to launch inquiries into alleged irregularities and corruption by some key business beneficiaries of the previous regime.
