ACC approves charge sheets against former DB chief Harun, brother

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has approved charge sheets against Harun-or-Rashid, former chief of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch (DB), and his brother ABM Shahriar in two cases over alleged acquisition of wealth beyond known sources of income and money laundering.

The investigation found around Tk19.99 crore in assets beyond Harun's known sources of income and around Tk18.28 crore in Shahriar's case, ACC Secretary Saidur Rahman Khan said at a press conference at the commission's headquarters in Segunbagicha this afternoon (9 September).

ACC Deputy Director Muhammad Joynul Abedin investigated the two cases.

According to the investigation report, Harun owned immovable assets worth Tk12.07 crore and movable assets worth Tk9.21 crore, taking his total assets to Tk21.28 crore.

A review of his income tax records found legitimate income of Tk3.51 crore. After deducting expenses, his net legitimate resources stood at Tk1.29 crore, leaving Tk19.99 crore in unexplained assets, according to the ACC.

Investigators found a five-katha plot at Ashiyan City in Dakshinkhan, purchases of around 82 acres of land during the 2015-16 and 2018-19 tax years, 10.36 decimals of land and a building in Banani, an eight-storey house in Uttara Sector 3, and land in Cox's Bazar and Teknaf.

Shahriar, meanwhile, was found to have immovable assets worth Tk7.81 crore and movable assets worth Tk10.96 crore, taking his total assets to Tk18.77 crore.

His total income from the 2019-20 to 2023-24 tax years was Tk65.37 lakh. After deducting expenses, his legitimate savings capacity stood at Tk48.90 lakh, leaving Tk18.28 crore in unexplained assets, the investigation found.

The ACC alleged that Harun abused his positions in the police to acquire assets and concealed, transferred and converted them to hide their alleged illegal source, ownership and control.

The investigation also found that Harun gifted Shahriar 1,850 decimals of land in Kishoreganj through a deed in 2016. The ACC alleged that Harun helped his brother acquire assets through abuse of power and conceal their source.

The charge sheets cite Section 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, and Sections 4(2) and 4(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012. Harun is also accused under Section 109 of the Penal Code for allegedly assisting Shahriar.

The commission filed three separate cases on 17 December 2024 against Harun, his wife Shirin Akhtar and Shahriar. The charge sheets approved today concern the cases against Harun and Shahriar.

Harun is a former additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and former head of its Detective Branch. His role as DB chief during the July-August 2024 student-led uprising drew widespread attention.

Several cases, including murder cases, were filed against him after the uprising. He was temporarily suspended on 18 August 2025 under the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018, after being accused of remaining absent from duty.