A court in Dhaka imposed a ban on former fisheries and livestock minister SM Rezaul Karim from leaving the country.

Judge Mohammed Ash Shams Joglul Hossain of the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court of Dhaka gave the order on Thursday in view of the Anti-Corruption Commission's (ACC) application. ACC Assistant Director Md Aminul Islam confirmed it.

ACC Director Monayem Hossain, also the investigation officer of the case, has sought a ban on his (Rezaul Karim) departure as the ACC is investigating the corruption case against the former fisheries minister.

ACC Public Prosecutor MA Salahuddin Iskandar King attended the hearing.

The petition said that the ACC is investigating the allegations of abuse of power, various irregularities, and corruption against SM Rezaul Karim.

The petition also stated that information has been found about immovable properties worth crores of taka in the name of himself (Rezaul Karim) and his relatives in Nazirpur, Pirojpur and Dhaka, along with several irregularities and corruption due to abuse of power.

An analysis of the information obtained during the investigation and the statements of the people involved shows that the suspects could leave the country at any time with important evidence and illegal money.

Therefore, for the sake of a fair investigation, it is necessary to cancel the foreign travel of the accused person, the petition added.

During the hearing, ACC Public Prosecutor MA Salahuddin Iskandar King said, “I pray for the public interest to ban Rezaul Karim's foreign travel. The investigation process is likely to be prolonged or disrupted if the suspect flees abroad.”

Later, the court, considering the seriousness of the request and complaint, granted the ban.