41 former ministers, MPs under ACC scanner

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an inquiry into allegations of acquiring assets outside of known income against 41 former ministers and lawmakers of the recently ousted Awami League government.

The commission has taken this initiative in view of an application of lawyer M Sarwar Hossain referring to their unusual increase in wealth, ACC sources told the media yesterday (19 August).

Ahead of the 12th national elections, the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) illustrated income and wealth growth of parliamentary candidates by analysing information provided on their affidavits. Referring to that, the lawyer requested the ACC to launch an inquiry by mentioning the names of 41 former ministers and members of parliament.

The former ministers under ACC scanner include former commerce minister Tipu Munshi, former food ministers Sadhan Chandra Majumder, former law minister Anisul Huq, former social welfare minister Dipu Moni, former health minister Zahid Maleque, former education minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury, former jute and textile minister  Golam Dastgir Gazi, former shipping minister Shajahan Khan, former foreign minister Hasan Mahmud, former minister for expatriates' welfare and overseas employment Imran Ahmed, former industries minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, former local government, rural development and cooperatives minister Md Tazul Islam, former information minister Hasanul Haque Inu, former food minister Qumrul Islam, former state minister for shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, former state minister for religious affairs Faridul Haque, former state minister Junaid Ahmed Palak, former state minister for education Zakir Hossain, former state minister Zahid Ahsan Russell, and former state minister for industries Kamal Ahmed Mojumder.

Former lawmakers under ACC scanner include Benazir Ahmed (Dhaka-20), AKM Sarwar Jahan (Kushtia-1), Shariful Islam Jinnah (Bogra-2), Shahidul Islam Bakul (Natore-1), Sheikh Afil Uddin (Jessore-1), Salim Uddin Tarafdar (Naogaon-3), Kazi Nabil Ahmed (Jessore-3), Enamul Haque (Rajshahi-4), Meher Afroz Chumki (Gazipur-5), Noor Alam Chowdhury (Madaripur-1), Sheikh Helal Uddin (Bagerhat-1), Swapan Bhattacharya (Jessore-5), Kazim Uddin Ahmed (Mymensingh-11), Kujendra Lal Tripura (Khagrachari), Muhibur Rahman (Patuakhali-4), Mamunur Rashid Kiran (Noakhali-3), Ziaur Rahman (Chapainawabganj-2), Enamul Haque (Rajshahi-4), Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapon (Joypurhat-1), and Anwar Hossain (Pirojpur-2).