The Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court in Dhaka has temporarily barred the internationally recognised singer and chairman of the private television channel GaanBangla, Kaushik Hossain Tapas, from leaving the country. Simultaneously, the court has directed the submission of all income tax records associated with Tapas, his wife Farzana Munni (also known as Farzana Arman), and their children. The order was issued following a request from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Bangladesh Police.
Deputy Police Inspector Mehedi Hasan of CID informed the court that Tapas faces a case of attempted murder registered with Uttara East Police Station. Preliminary investigations have also suggested his potential involvement in money laundering. “If he were allowed to travel abroad, there is a considerable risk that he could evade the legal process,” Inspector Hasan stated, prompting the court to impose the travel restriction.
Court Bench Assistant Riaz Hossain confirmed the directives, emphasising the importance of reviewing Tapas and his family’s income tax documentation. According to investigators, multiple government departments were contacted to compile records of Tapas’s movable and immovable assets. While most departments responded, the income tax documents remain pending, highlighting the necessity of the court’s intervention.
A summary of the CID’s petition is presented below:
| Subject | Details |
|---|---|
| Accused | Kaushik Hossain Tapas |
| Family | Wife: Farzana Munni; Children |
| Allegations | Attempted murder; Money laundering investigation |
| Investigating Officer | CID, Deputy Police Inspector Mehedi Hasan |
| Court Orders | Ban on foreign travel; Submission of income tax records |
| Key Chronology | First arrest: 3 November 2024; Arrested during July 2024 civil unrest; Granted bail June 2025 |
Tapas was initially arrested on 3 November 2024 and later detained during the nationwide civil unrest in July 2024, when he was implicated in multiple homicide-related cases. After spending over seven months in custody, he was released on bail in June 2025.
Investigators emphasise that restricting Tapas’s foreign travel and obtaining his family’s tax records are crucial steps in tracing possible illegal assets and uncovering financial irregularities. Analysts have suggested that the court’s intervention will enhance transparency regarding Tapas’s and his family’s financial dealings, thereby strengthening the country’s economic governance. Moreover, this move is being hailed as a significant precedent for upholding fiscal discipline and ensuring law and order in Bangladesh.