BFIU orders banks to freeze accounts of Orion Group chairman, top executives

BFIU has ordered the freezing of these accounts, & the suspension of locker and credit card facilities, for the next 30 days.

Dhaka, Sept 18 -The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has instructed banks to freeze the accounts of Orion Group Chairman Obaidul Karim and Managing Director Salman Obaidul Karim, as part of a broader financial investigation.

The accounts of Arzuda Karim and Zareen Karim, both directors of Orion Group, along with two relatives, Mehadi Hasan and Rezaul Karim, will also be frozen, according to a recent BFIU directive sent to banks.

The BFIU has ordered the freezing of these accounts, as well as the suspension of locker and credit card facilities, for the next 30 days. 

Additionally, banks have been asked to update the BFIU on whether any of the six individuals are operating other accounts under different names.

Obaidul Karim, the founder of Orion Group, leads one of Bangladesh’s largest industrial conglomerates, with diversified interests in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, infrastructure development, agribusiness, hospitality, textiles, and aviation.-UNB