Travel ban imposed on two ex-Eastern insurance officials

Staff Correspondent: A Dhaka court has imposed a travel ban on two former officials of Eastern Insurance Company Limited following separate applications filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The order was issued on Wednesday (March 4) by Judge Md. Sabbir Faiz of the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Court in Dhaka.

The two officials are Mahmud Hasan, former Deputy Managing Director of Eastern Insurance and Jannatun Nesa Zakia, the company’s former Senior Executive Vice President.

Court bench assistant Md. Riaz Hossain confirmed the development to the media.

According to the ACC’s application, Mahmud Hasan is currently serving as Additional Managing Director of Crystal Insurance Company Limited. The ACC is conducting an inquiry against him over allegations of acquiring wealth beyond known sources of income. Besides, an investigation is underway in a case filed against him for failing to submit a mandatory wealth statement to the ACC.

The ACC’s Assistant Director Md. Ismail submitted the petition seeking restriction on Mahmud Hasan’s travel abroad. The application stated that reliable sources indicated that the accused might attempt to leave the country during the investigation. To ensure a fair and proper inquiry, the ACC requested the court to impose a travel restriction.

The court accepted the request and ordered that Mahmud Hasan be barred from leaving Bangladesh until further notice.

A similar application was filed regarding Jannatun Nesa Zakia. The ACC said she is also under investigation for allegedly accumulating assets beyond her known income sources. She is also facing investigation in a case related to failure to submit a wealth statement to the anti-graft body.

According to the ACC, information obtained during the inquiry suggests that Zakia may attempt to flee the country. Therefore, the commission requested the court to impose a travel ban to ensure the proper conduct of the investigation.

After reviewing the applications, the court granted the requests and issued orders restricting both individuals from traveling abroad.

The investigations into the allegations against the two former Eastern Insurance officials are currently ongoing.