ACC finds 1,300 decimal land, flats, business establishments of Nizam Hazari

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has unearthed huge illegal assets and properties, including land, flats, commercial spaces owned by former Awami League lawmaker Nizam Hazari in different cities and Feni, official sources said today (5 May).

The anti-graft body during its primary investigation found 1,300 decimal land in Feni, flats in Dhaka's Gulshan, Mohammadpur, Gazipur and Chattogram, eight commercial shops at Garden City at Katasur area in the capital. 

The ACC found record of transaction of Tk550 crore through 83 bank accounts, Tk12 crore shares in six commercial establishments and a luxurious triplex building with modern helipad in Feni town. 

The investigators also found the current balance of Tk12 crore in his accounts.

The former AL lawmaker started his carrier with 30 decimal paternal lands in Feni town and illegally acquired these assets, properties and money from 2014 to 2024 when he was MP, said Md Nurul Huda, Deputy Director (DD) of the ACC and Investigation Officer (IO) of the case filed against Nizam Hazari.

The investigators also found that Nur Jahan Begum, wife of Nizam Hazari bought three flats in Gulshan, 50 decimal lands in Mohhamdpur, a garden house at Keraniganj and huge properties in Chattogram, Gazipur and Khagrachhari and investment of Tk50 crore in different business establishments.

"We've already attached the moveable properties and confiscated the immoveable properties of Nizam Hazari flowing an instruction from the court concerned," the IO of the case Md Nurul Huda told BSS. 

He acquired these assets and properties during the last 14 years by misusing his power that is contrary to his known source of income, the IO said, adding that Hazari committed punishable offences under under section 27(1) of the ACC Act-2004 and sub-section 2 and 3 under section 4 of the Money Laundering Prevention Act-2012.

The anti-graft officials said that Nizam Hazari in his income tax file showed the value of his triplex building with helipad and farm house worth about Taka 12 crore only but locals alleged that he spent over Tk100 crore for the house. After the changeover of 5 August last year, Nizam Hazari fled the country and the angry people vandalised and torched his triplex building, they added.

During the investigation, the ACC also found a short-gun in the name of Nizam Hazari worth about Tk3 lakh, investment of Tk2.5 crore in Snigdha Equities Limited, Tk1.99 crore with Snigdha Fishing and Hatcheries, Tk5.5 crore in Falguni Air International, Tk1.5 crore in Snigdha Water Transport Limited, Tk5 lakh in Snigdha Design Limited and Tk10 lakh in Snigdha Overseas Limited. 

The former MP also handed over 482.54 decimal lands to his daughter Nur Rahat Jahan Snigdha through four separate Heba deeds, the officials added.