Court orders seizure of flats and car of Abul Barkat

A Dhaka court on Wednesday ordered the seizure of two flats and a car of Dhaka University Economics Department Professor Abul Barkat, and the freezing of the bank accounts of the former Janata Bank PLC chairman khrtment niversity  s worth Tk mid shrinking

ded.ng over allegations of illegal wealth accumulation.

Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Shahjahan Kabir passed the order following a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

According to sources, the seized assets include Tk2.5 lakh invested in the Dhaka University Teachers’ Housing Project and two separate flats in Mohammadpur and Dhanmondi. The court also ordered the freezing of his bank accounts and the seizure of a car valued at Tk29 lakh.

ACC Assistant Director and investigation officer Mohammad Shahjahan Miraj filed the petition, stating that an inquiry was ongoing into allegations that Barkat had illegally provided loans to various companies and acquired assets beyond his known sources of income.

According to the petition, the ACC found information about immovable assets worth Tk49.61 lakh and movable assets worth Tk3.50 crore and $10,250 owned by Barkat.

The petition further said that information from various sources suggested that Barkat was attempting to sell or transfer the assets linked to the allegations.

The ACC therefore sought the immediate seizure and freezing of the assets, noting that there was a risk of substantial loss to the state if the allegedly illicit assets were transferred, converted or sold before the inquiry was concluded.

Earlier, Barkat was arrested from his Dhanmondi residence on 10 July 2025 in an ACC case. He was later shown arrested in a case over the murder of businessman Wadud and was subsequently released from jail on bail.