Ex-state minister Kamal Majumder, son sued over alleged illegal wealth

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed two separate cases against former state minister for industries Kamal Ahmed Majumder and his son Shahed Ahmed Majumder on charges of acquiring illegal wealth.

The ACC has also issued an asset declaration notice against Shahida Kamal, wife of the former state minister, ACC Director General (Prevention) Md Akhtar Hossain told reporters today (11 February).

Akhtar said, "We have information that the former state minister amassed assets worth Tk129.558 crore through abuse of power. This is inconsistent with his known source of income."

Besides, he said a total of Tk296.035 crore was transferred to 10 bank accounts in the name of companies where Kamal Majumder, an Awami League leader, has interests.

Only Kamal Majumder was named as an accused in the first case.

In the second case, Shahed Ahmed Majumder has also been named as an accused along with Kamal Majumder.

The ACC DG said the agency has information that Shahed acquired assets worth Tk2.39 crore through abuse of power.

Meanwhile, Akhtar said no income tax documents or bank accounts have been found in the name of Shahida Kamal.

However, she might have assets in her name or anonymously, the ACC DG said.

"For this reason, she has been ordered to submit an asset statement against as per Section 26 (1) of the ACC Act 2004," he added.

Kamal Ahmed was arrested on 18 October last year following the ouster of the Awami League-led government through a mass uprising. A Dhaka court later sent him to jail in a case lodged over the killing of Jagannath University student Ekramul Haque Sajid during the anti-discrimination student movement.