ACC sues former Ctg Jubo League leader Babar, wife over illegal assets

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed two separate cases against the controversial Jubo League leader of Chattogram city Jubo League, Helal Akbar Chowdhury Babar, and his wife Jasmine Akter, over allegations of amassing illegal wealth beyond known sources of income.

One case accuses Babar of acquiring Tk88.87 lakh in unexplained assets and concealing Tk30.88 lakh in wealth in his official declaration. The second case, which also names Jasmine as the prime accused, alleges she accumulated Tk1.83 crore in ill-gotten wealth and concealed Tk15.50 lakh worth of assets.

ACC Deputy Director Md Naushad Ali lodged the cases today (20 August) at the commission's Dhaka headquarters, said Chattogram District ACC Deputy Director Subel Ahmed.

According to the charge sheets, Babar declared Tk1.77 crore worth of assets in his wealth statement, including Tk9.09 lakh in immovable and Tk1.68 crore in movable properties. But ACC investigations found his actual assets amounted to Tk2.08 crore, revealing that he had hidden Tk30.88 lakh worth of properties.

The probe also found that between the 2012–13 and 2020–21 tax years, Babar declared Tk1.41 crore in income while showing household expenditures of Tk21.85 lakh. Adding assets and expenses, his total holdings stood at Tk2.30 crore, leaving Tk88.87 lakh unexplained.

Besides, his wife Jasmine declared assets worth Tk2.34 crore, but an ACC investigation found it to be Tk2.50 crore, indicating a concealed amount of Tk15.50 lakh.

Tax records between 2020 and 2022 show she declared Tk2.66 crore in income, where Tk1.79 crore lacked any legitimate source. The ACC claimed that Jasmine held Tk1.83 crore worth of assets beyond known income sources. 

Babar was also named in his wife's case for abetting her in accumulating the assets.

Once a listed top criminal in Chattogram, Babar rose to prominence in local politics, becoming a key Jubo League leader and wielding influence over railway tenders after the Awami League assumed power in 2009. His name was linked to a double murder that shook the country at the time. He also served as deputy finance secretary of the Jubo League's central committee.

Babar resurfaced during the July 2024 protests, facing allegations of using firearms. He has more than a dozen cases pending across various police stations and courts. Following the fall of the Awami League government, he reportedly fled from the country with his family.