The Anti-Corruption Commission has asked the Special Branch (SB) of police to impose exit restrictions on 22 people -- most of them current or former leaders of Awami League and its front organisations -- who have allegedly amassed illegal wealth.

An exit restriction would prevent the named individuals from leaving the country.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director Syed Iqbal Hossain, who is leading an enquiry into the illegal wealth of the leaders, sent the letter to the special superintendent of SB.  

The letter said they had information that the leaders might be trying to emigrate to evade trial and asked steps be taken to prevent them from doing so. 

A police high up confirmed receiving the letter. “We’re taking necessary steps in this regard,” he said.

Meanwhile, the ACC yesterday filed two separate cases against Dhaka Wanderers Club’s casino shareholder Enamul Haque Enu and his brother Rupon Bhuiyan, who are both on the run, for amassing Tk 35 crore beyond their known source of income, said ACC’s Public Relations Officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya. 

Earlier on Monday, ACC had filed two separate cases against contractor SM Golam Kibria Shamim and his mother for amassing Tk 297.08 crore and expelled Jubo League Dhaka South Organising Secretary Khalid Mahmud Bhuiyan for having Tk 5.58 crore beyond any known source of income. 

In yesterday’s letter, the ACC also said it had primarily found the leaders involved in money-laundering. 

The ACC asked for the exit restrictions on lawmakers Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shaon and Shamsul Haque Chowdhury, expelled Dhaka South Jubo League president Ismail Chowdhury Samrat and his aide Enamul Haque Arman, organising secretary Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, contractor SM Golam Kibria Shamim, Mohammedan Sporting Club Director In-charge M Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan and his wife Nabila Lokman, President of Kalabagan Sporting Club Mohammad Shafikul Alam, owner of an online-based gambling business Salim Prodhan, ward councilors Habibur Rahman and AKM Mominul Haque Sayeed.

Of them, Sayeed is now living abroad, sources said.

The others on the list are: expelled office secretary of Jubo League Kazi Anisur Rahman and his wife Sumi Rahman, Public Works Department (PWD) former chief engineer Mohammad Rafiqul Islam and additional chief engineer Abdul Hye, NRB Global Bank’s former managing director Prasanta Kumar Haldar, Dhaka Wanderers Club’s casino shareholder Enamul Haque Enu and his brother Rupon Bhuiyan, office staff Abul Kalam Azad, owner of Jakir Enterprise Jakir Hossain and Shafique Enterprise owner Shafiqul Islam. 

On September 30, ACC’s Secretary Dilwar Bakth told media that the Commission would inquire into the illegal wealth of the persons who amassed wealth through the casino business.

Later, it prepared a primary list.

Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) and Rab provided intelligence reports on their wealth. 

Law enforcers began drives against illegal gambling business on September 18.

On the same day, Rab arrested Khalid for operating a casino. Two days later, Shamim was arrested from his Niketon residence. They were later sent to jail in separate cases.

Two weeks after the drive began, casino kingpin Samrat was arrested from Cumilla near the Indian border. He was later sent to jail.