DHAKA: The Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh decided on Tuesday to ask the cabinet division and home ministry to freeze of bank accounts and attach property of 15 high profile allegedly corrupt people, who missed the deadline for submission of wealth statements to the commission under the Emergency Powers Rules.

In this regard, the commission would send letters to the cabinet division and home ministry within a day or two.

The commission, reconstituted early this week, also decided to seek explanation from the law ministry tomorrow (Wednesday) as to what procedure could be followed regarding the notified people now staying overseas.

A member of the commission, Habibur Rahman, made the announcement of the decisions at a press briefing.

Notably, the Commission earlier issued separate notices to 50 people to submit their wealth statements in 72 hours that expired on Sunday. Of the

50, who include former ministers and lawmakers on both sides of the political divide, 17 failed to turn up before the commission.

Another commissioner, Manzur Mannan, said that similar notices may be issued to more people, asking for explanation of their wealth and incomes, but not right now.

The commission will promptly take appropriate legal actions against those who will be found to have made false statements, although the law does not stipulate any deadline for such actions, he said.

However, commissioner Habibur Rahman told reporters that they would also examine and investigate the statements submitted by 35 people, including former ministers and lawmakers.

“If investigations find inconsistency in anyone’s statement, he will be asked to explain the matter,” the commissioner said, adding that any unsatisfactory explanation would prompt the commission to file lawsuit against the person concerned.

Replying to a query, he said that names of all 15 people, who had missed the deadline, would be included in its list to be sent to the government, asking to freeze of bank accounts and property attachment.