Bank accounts of Orion Group chairman Obaidul Karim and its managing director Salman Obaidul Karim were frozen on Wednesday (September 18).

Besides, the bank accounts of Obaidul Karim`s wife Arzuda Karim and daughter Zareen Karim, directors of Orion Group, as well as two other relatives tied to the conglomerate -- Mehedi Hasan and Rezaul Karim -- were also frozen.

Their bank accounts were frozen following a letter sent by the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) of the central bank to all the commercial banks.

The BFIU directed the lenders to keep their accounts frozen for the next 30 days. The agency also instructed banks to block their locker and credit card facilities for 30 days.

The banks then asked the BFIU to provide updated information on the six officials of Orion Group to find out if they are using any bank accounts under other names.

Orion Group, founded by Obaidul Karim, is one of the largest industrial conglomerates in Bangladesh.

The conglomerate comprises industries in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, infrastructure development, agribusiness, hospitality, textiles, aviation and more.