Court Reporter:

A Dhaka court has ordered the seizure of income tax records of 10 individuals, including former state ministers Nasrul Hamid and Meher Afroze Chumki, and former members of parliament Md Zahid Ahsan Russel, Sheikh Helal Uddin and Md Zakir Hossain.

The order was issued on Sunday by the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Sabbir Foyez following 10 separate petitions filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

Others whose tax documents were ordered to be seized include Seema Hamid, wife of former state minister Nasrul Hamid, and their son Zarif Hamid; Sheikh Rupa Chowdhury, wife of former MP Sheikh Helal Uddin; Tamal Monsur, son of former health minister Mohammad Nasim; and Zinat Parveen Chowdhury, wife of former chief whip Nur-e-Alam Chowdhury.

According to the petitions, investigation officers have already been appointed against the accused individuals.

The ACC said preliminary investigations found evidence of offences punishable under various provisions of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, and the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.

The petitions further stated that seizure and examination of all income tax returns and related documents of the accused were essential for the proper investigation of the cases.