Bashundhara Group chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, his son Sayem Sobhan Anvir, also the group鈥檚 managing director, and several other members of Sobhan鈥檚 family sought a 90-day time to appear before the Anti-Corruption Commission in connection with the ongoing inquiry into allegations of land grabbing, embezzlement and money laundering against them.
The Bashundhara Group chairman and his family members submitted a time petition on Monday through their lawyer to the anti-graft agency, said ACC deputy director (public relations) Aktarul Islam.
鈥楾hey have requested for a 90-day time to appear before the commission, but, as per the law, the ACC must complete its inquiry within 45 days, so the granting of the time extension will depend on the inquiry officer of the probe,鈥� he added.
Earlier, the ACC summoned the Bashundhara Group chairman and several members of his family to the ACC in May 25-26.
The ACC sent letters to Ahmed Akbar Sobhan 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 the 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.
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 authoritarian Awami League regime on August 5, 2024, amid a mass uprising, the ACC launched inquiries into allegations of irregularities and corruption by some key business conglomerates, including Bashundhara Group.
