A Dhaka court has barred Evaly’s Managing Director (MD) Mohammad Rassel and his wife Shamima Nasrin, who is the chairman of the e-commerce firm, from travelling abroad.
The court of Senior Special Judge KM Imrul Kayes issued the travel ban on Thursday following a petition by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Earlier on July 9, the ACC barred the top officials of the online marketplace from leaving the country.
ACC Deputy Director ASM Sajjad Hossain notified the police’s Special Branch (SB) and the Department of Immigration and Passport (DIP) about the matter in a letter.
On July 7, the Ministry of Commerce asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to file a case against Evaly over the embezzlement of Tk338 crore it owed to merchants, which was taken as an advance from customers.
The ministry also separately wrote to the ACC to initiate legal actions against the online marketplace over the irregularities reported by Bangladesh Bank.
After receiving the letter from the ministry, ACC formed a two-member probe committee with ACC Assistant Director Mamunur Rashid Chowdhury and Assistant Deputy Director Muhammad Shihab Salam as members.
The graft watchdog will investigate what happened to the money taken from customers and if the money had been laundered somewhere, said officials.
If proof of embezzlement is found, then a case will be filed against Evaly under the Money Laundering Act, according to them.
Meanwhile, Evaly has closed its headquarters in Dhanmondi despite the government’s withdrawal of lockdown restrictions.
Customers are repeatedly visiting the office for various complaints and queries but to no avail.
However, Evaly Managing Director Mohammad Rassel claimed that they have switched to work-from-home.
"Everyone has been doing home office since the lockdown started,” he told the media before adding they plan to open the office following the strict lockdown after Eid.
