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Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Swapon is a former member of parliament for the Joypurhat-2 constituency. A businessman by profession, he was elected as an MP twice and served as a national parliament whip with the rank of a state minister. He is also the central organizing secretary of the Awami League. It is known that he has been residing in the UK for at least ten months. He is also reported to have invested in real estate businesses in the UK under a different name. He lives in the Redbridge area of London with his family. For quite some time, he has been attending and speaking at various UK Awami League events. However, on Sunday, a Bangladeshi court issued a travel ban and an order to seize assets of Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Swapon and his wife. Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Swapon and his wife, Mehbuba Alam, are with their family members in the UK. Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood also recently attended and was seen on stage at an event to mark the 76th founding anniversary of the Awami League at the Royal Regency Hall in East London.
It has been reported that the ACC has filed a case against Swapon and his wife on charges of illegally acquiring wealth and money laundering. The court issued the order to prevent them from fleeing the country in the interest of a fair investigation.
ACC's Allegations
The ACC's application states that by abusing his power as a former MP, Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Swapon acquired assets worth BDT 1.26 crore inconsistent with his known sources of income. A total of 28 bank accounts were found in his name and his company's name, with a total of BDT 326.72 crore in unusual transactions. The ACC claims these huge transactions are unusual and suspicious compared to his business capital. This abnormal transaction is considered a punishable offense under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012, and the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004.
Seizure and Freezing of Assets
By order of the court, a large number of assets belonging to Swapon, his wife Mehbuba Alam, and their daughter Nuzayma Mahmood are being seized and frozen. According to reports in Bangladeshi media, ACC Assistant Director Tanzir Ahmed confirmed this information, stating that it was necessary to seize these assets for a proper investigation.
Jamal Ahmed Khan, a UK Awami League leader, said that Abu Sayeed Al Mahmood Swapon and his wife, Mehbuba Alam, have been living in the UK with their family for a long time and regularly participate in party events. News of his residence and participation in party events in the UK has been published in the country's newspapers for months. He believes that issuing a travel ban for a person who has been abroad for a long time proves how the country's court and the ACC operate.
Mahbubul Karim Suyed, treasurer of the UK Bangla Press Club, said the travel ban against an Awami League leader who has been living in London with his family and regularly participating in party events, as widely reported in the country's newspapers for a long time, has created a sense of humor in the community. He believes this action has also called the ACC and the government into question.
A lawyer told to Daily Dazzling Dawn Dawn, by banning him, who has been in the UK for a long time, from leaving Bangladesh, the government has, ironically, created grounds for him to be quickly granted political asylum here if he seeks it.
