The High Court has ordered authorities to dispose of an application seeking an inquiry into businessman and former Eastern Bank chairman Shawkat Ali Chowdhury within 30 days. The order was issued on Tuesday by a High Court bench led by Justice Fahmida Kader over allegations involving the laundering of $25 million to the United Kingdom.

The court also issued a rule asking why legal action should not be taken against the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit for its alleged failure to recover the money from the United Kingdom. The writ petition named the Anti-Corruption Commission and its chairman, the BFIU chief, the National Board of Revenue and the Bangladesh Bank governor as respondents.

According to the petition, the UK National Crime Agency found $25 million in Shawkat Ali Chowdhury’s name while investigating assets allegedly laundered by former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury. UK authorities reportedly sought a freezing order or mutual legal assistance request within four weeks, but the petition alleged no action was taken. It said the funds were later moved to the United Arab Emirates and were declared as undisclosed foreign assets in a tax return.