Another Travel Ban on Hasina Nearly 16 Months After She Fled to India

December 21, 2025

Bangladesh: A Dhaka court on December 21 imposed a travel ban on former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India nearly 16 months ago after a mass uprising, in connection with a case involving alleged fraud and embezzlement of more than Tk309 crore in government funds.

The restriction was also placed on 16 other individuals, including several prominent former Awami League MPs, according to Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Assistant Director (Public Relations) Tanjir Ahmed.

Judge Md Abdullah Al Mamun of the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court issued the order after approving an application submitted by the ACC, he confirmed.

Former Ministers and MPs Included in the Ban

In addition to Sheikh Hasina, the former ministers barred from travelling include Obaidul Quader, Amir Hossain Amu, Tofail Ahmed, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Anisul Huq and Md Abdul Mannan.

Others named in the order are MAN Siddique, Rafiqul Jalil, Mohammad Shafiqul Karim, Md Firoz Iqbal, Ebne Alam Hasan, Md Aftab Hossain Khan, Md Abdus Salam, Munir-Uz-Zaman Chowdhury, Selina Chowdhury and Md Ikram Iqbal.

Alleged Fraud Linked to CNS Limited

According to the ACC application filed by Assistant Director Md Tanzil Hasan, the case centres on alleged irregularities involving a company named Computer Network System (CNS) Limited.

The commission stated that the accused conspired to allow the firm to claim bills at an inflated rate of 17.75 percent over a five-year period. This allegedly caused a direct loss of Tk309,42,45,890 to the state treasury, while the company received payments amounting to Tk489,43,73,000 during its operational period.

The ACC further alleged that standard procedures were deliberately bypassed and government authority was abused for personal gain from the misappropriated funds.

Why Impose Travel Bans on Those Already Abroad

In its submission, the anti-graft body told the court that travel restrictions were necessary to ensure a fair investigation. It cited credible information suggesting that accused individuals named in the FIR could attempt to leave the country, potentially obstructing the probe and leading to the destruction of vital evidence.

Since September 2024, courts have approved ACC requests to restrict the travel of nearly 250 former ministers, MPs, politicians, business figures and government officials over allegations ranging from money laundering and misuse of government project funds to accumulation of illicit wealth.

However, officials acknowledged that more than a hundred individuals covered by these restrictions are already believed to be outside the country.

Previous Travel Bans on Sheikh Hasina

Earlier this September, two different Dhaka courts had also imposed travel bans on Sheikh Hasina and others in separate cases related to a Vatara murder incident, alleged anti-state activities and attempts to topple the interim government.