ACC files case against ex-MP Mahfuzur over Tk9.88cr illegal wealth

The Anti-Corruption Commission has filed a case against former lawmaker Mahfuzur Rahman on charges of amassing assets worth Tk9.88 crore beyond his known sources of income.

Assistant Director Musabbir Ahmed lodged the case today (18 February) with the ACC's Integrated District Office, Chattogram-2.

ACC Deputy Director Shobel Ahmed confirmed the matter.

Mahfuzur, 56, was a member of parliament elected from Chattogram-3 in the 10th to 12th national elections and currently serves as chairman of Rupali Life Insurance Company Limited.

According to the ACC, a decision to probe allegations of irregularities, abuse of power and embezzlement of funds from public projects was taken by the commission on 17 October 2024. The complaint was subsequently enlisted for investigation, and a three-member inquiry team was formed, led by Deputy Director Md Riaz Uddin, with two assistant directors as members.

The investigation reviewed income tax returns submitted by Mahfuzur from the 2002–03 to 2024–25 assessment years. During the period under review, the ACC calculated that he earned Tk10.66 crore from identifiable sources, including parliamentary honorariums and allowances, house rent, share dividends, bank and other loans, vehicle sales and other declared income.

However, although he reported business and fisheries income amounting to over Tk9.32 crore in his tax filings, the ACC said he failed to provide documentary evidence in support of those claims during the inquiry.

As a result, those earnings were not accepted as valid income at the preliminary stage.

The commission also examined his claim of receiving Tk3.75 crore in loans or advances from his wife between the 2011–12 and 2016–17 tax years.

Investigators said no acceptable records were found to substantiate the transactions, and preliminary findings suggested his wife did not have a lawful source to provide such loans. The amount was therefore excluded from lawful income calculations.

Records show that during the same period, Mahfuzur incurred family and other expenditures amounting to Tk9.91 crore, leaving net savings of Tk75.37 lakh, according to the ACC's assessment.

The inquiry found that he acquired total assets worth Tk10.63 crore, including Tk2.23 crore in immovable property and Tk8.39 crore in movable assets.

After adjusting for savings, the ACC concluded that assets worth Tk9.88 crore were disproportionate to his known sources of income.

The case has been filed under Section 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

The commission will investigate the case and stated that if further involvement of others emerges during the investigation, necessary legal action will be taken.