A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of bank accounts belonging to former social welfare minister Dipu Moni and former food minister Qamrul Islam over allegations of suspicious financial transactions.

Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib issued the orders on Thursday, following separate hearings on petitions filed by Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hasan.

The court directed the seizure of Tk6.17 crore held in 22 bank accounts belonging to Dipu Moni and her husband Tawfique Nawaz. Of this amount, Dipu Moni herself holds Tk6.11 crore across 18 accounts.

They are accused of conducting suspicious transactions involving large sums of money. The ACC argued that seizing the amounts was necessary to facilitate a proper investigation.

ACC Public Relations Officer Akhtarul Islam said that significant suspicious transactions were also identified in bank and financial institution accounts held by Qamrul Islam, which currently contain over Tk2.42 crore.

The commission claims to have information suggesting that efforts were underway to transfer or dispose of the funds, necessitating urgent action to preserve the assets for investigation.

Earlier, on 5 February, another court ordered the seizure of Tk3.55 crore across 15 bank accounts held by Qamrul.

On 18 November, police arrested Qamrul in Uttara-12, Dhaka. The following day, he was remanded in a murder case filed with New Market Police Station. Several other murder cases have also been lodged against him. Subsequently, on 11 February, Qamrul was shown as arrested in a case filed by the ACC over alleged illegal wealth accumulation. The case is being heard in the court of Judge Zakir Hossain Galib.

Meanwhile, the same court has imposed a travel ban on former Member of Parliament Mohammad Ali, his wife Ayesha Ferdous, sons Ashiq Ali and Mahtab Ali, and daughter Sumaiya Ali Ishita.

The ACC sought the ban through a petition submitted by Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hasan.

Mohammad Ali and his family members are accused of amassing wealth beyond known sources of income, constructing a five-storey hotel on occupied land, and laundering money.

On 11 August last year, a Noakhali Magistrate Court sent Mohammad Ali, his wife Ayesha, and son Ashik to jail following their arrest.