A Dhaka court today issued a travel ban on Partha Gopal Banik, a suspended deputy inspector general (prisons) of Sylhet division, who is an accused in a graft case.

Judge Md Iqbal Hossain of the Special Judge Court-5 of Dhaka passed the order following an application filed by the ACC with the court, court sources said.

The court also directed the anti-graft body to send its order to the special superintendent of police (immigration) of the Special Branch (SB) of Bangladesh Police in this regard.

According to the ACC application, the corruption allegations against the accused are now under trial. They suspect the accused may try to go abroad and as such it is urgent to direct the Special Branch (SB) of police so that he cannot leave the country.

Earlier, the same judge granted Partha bail till July 15 upon a bond of Tk 50,000 with two guarantors in a case filed over the recovery of Tk 80 lakh from his residence in Dhaka even though the prosecution raised serious objection.

Granting Partha bail has recently drawn flak from various quarters including the High Court.

On July 29 of 2019, ACC Director Mohammad Yousuf quizzed Partha over allegations that he committed irregularities and corruption as DIG (prisons) of Chattogram division. The interrogation continued at the ACC headquarters for about four hours.

After interrogation, the ACC team, accompanied by Partha, went to his Green Road residence in the capital and recovered the money.

They later detained him and showed him arrested after the case was filed against him on the same day.

The following day, Partha was sent to jail after he was produced before a Dhaka court.

On August 24 last year, ACC Deputy Director Md Salauddin, also investigation officer, submitted the charge sheet to the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court.

In the charge sheet, the IO said the charges of "illegally acquiring wealth through money laundering" brought against Partha were primarily proven, so he should be brought under trial.

On November 4 last year, the court framed charges against the accused in the case.