A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of 38 bank accounts belonging to Toufika Aftab, also known as Toufika Karim, who is reportedly a close associate of former Law Minister Anisul Huq. The accounts hold a total of BDT 43 crore 66 lakh 66 thousand 160.

The order was issued on Wednesday (April 23) by Judge Zakir Hossain Galib of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court, following a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The information was confirmed by ACC spokesperson Akhtarul Islam.

According to the ACC’s petition, Toufika is under investigation for allegedly acquiring undisclosed assets both in her name and through proxies, using illicit means. A six-member inquiry team has been formed to carry out the investigation.

Initial findings suggest that Toufika was attempting to withdraw, transfer, or otherwise hide the funds in these accounts. As a result, freezing the accounts was deemed necessary to prevent further movement of the suspected illicit funds.

The ACC stated that if the accounts are not frozen, it may become difficult for the state to confiscate the assets during trial proceedings, potentially leading to significant financial losses for the government.