Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit on Sunday froze the bank accounts of Bashundhara Group chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan and seven of his family members.

The anti-money laundering intelligence sent a letter to all banks to comply with the instruction immediately.

The group’s owners and their associates allegedly accumulated huge assets at home and abroad.

The banks were asked to freeze bank accounts in the name of the group chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, his four sons, Sadat Sobhan, Shafiat Sobhan, Sayem Sobhan Anvir, and Safwan Sobhan, along with three daughters-in-law, Sonia Ferdousi Sobhan, Sabrina Sobhan, and Yasha Sobhan.

The BFIU letter stated that any bank accounts operated in the name of these individuals or their companies are to have transactions suspended under the Anti-Money Laundering Act for 30 days.

Banks and financial institutions have been instructed to submit information regarding their bank accounts (account opening forms, KYC, and transaction details), ongoing loan details (customer name, loan account number, current status, classification), suspicious import or export bills, and locker-related information to the BFIU within two business days.

During the anti-discrimination student movement in July-August, the chairman of the group, Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, expressed his support for the then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Hasina resigned and fled to India on August 5 amid a massive student-led mass uprising.