Anti-Corruption Drive: 2 top leaders of AL fronts under scanner

The National Board of Revenue yesterday asked banks to freeze all accounts of Jubo league presidium member Sheikh Fazlur Rahman Maruf and Awami Swechchasebak League President Molla Mohammad Abu Kawser.

Amid the ongoing anti-corruption drive, the NBR also directed banks to freeze accounts of their spouses and their business firms in its bid to look into their tax compliance.

The banks were asked to provide within seven days the details of their accounts since July 2012.

Several top leaders of Jubo League and Krishak League have been arrested and are facing multiple investigations since the government launched a drive against corruption and illegal gambling last month.

Sheikh Maruf, also the brother of AL presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, was barred from entering the Gono Bhaban on Sunday when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held a meeting with the top leaders of Jubo League, the AL’s youth front.

Molla Abu Kawser is also the president of Dhaka Wanderers Club, which is among the clubs that had been closed on charges of running illegal casinos.

The Central Intelligence Cell of the NBR yesterday asked banks to freeze and furnish information of accounts of Maruf’s P24 Gaming Company Ltd and P24 Law Firm Ltd, and Kawser’s Fine Power Solutions Ltd.

The NBR last week asked banks to freeze the accounts of recently removed Jubo League president Omar Faruk, his wife, three sons and two business entities: Lake View Properties and RAO Construction Ltd.

The NBR had earlier froze the bank accounts of Dhaka North City Corporation ward councillors Tarequzzaman Rajib and Habibur Rahman Mizan and Jubo League leader Anisur Rahman, his wife and two business entities: Ma Filling Station and Arefin Enterprise.

Nearly two dozen people had their bank accounts frozen and had been facing investigations since the government launched the drive.