They failed to submit wealth statements to the ACC in time.

"AS per the emergency power rules, the government will seek permission from magistrates to freeze properties of corruption suspects who have failed to submit wealth statements. The government will now specify the authorities which will initiate this process," ACC Secretary Delwar Hossain told The Daily Star.

The 15 are on the list of 50 graft suspects whom the ACC had asked to submit wealth statements within 72 hours that ended on Sunday.

They include Tarique Rahman's business partner Giasuddin Al-Mamun, former prime minister Khaleda Zia's political secretary Harris Chowdhury, Awami League (AL) leader Abul Hasnat Abdullah, former AL state minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, former AL whip Mostafa Rashidi Suja, former AL MPs Shamim Osman, Akhteruzzaman Chowdhury Babu, Haji Selim, Mockbul Hossain, Mirza Azam and Joynal Hazari, Jubo League Chairman Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Munshiganj AL leader Mohiuddin Ahmed, Bashundhara Group chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan (Shah Alam) and former National Board of Revenue (NBR) member Jahurul Haque.

Of the 15, seven AL leaders have filed writ petitions seeking the High Court's permission to submit wealth statements through their representatives. Hearing of these petitions will take place on March 5.

Asked whether the government would now freeze properties of these seven persons, Delwar Hossain said the ACC has given a note to the government on the matter, and it would take the decision.

The seven are Maya, Nanak, Suja, Azam, Selim, Mockbul and Mohiuddin. All of them had sent their statements through representatives but the ACC refused to accept those saying that the suspects who were not in jail should submit those in person.

The ACC on February 19 published the list of 50 corruption suspects asking them to submit wealth statements within 72 hours. Of them, those not arrested were asked to submit statements to the ACC office in person.