ACC approves legal action against 36, including former MPs, mayors over wealth, graft allegations

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has approved various legal measures against 36 people, including former MPs, mayors and their family members, over allegations of concealing wealth information, acquiring assets beyond known sources of income, and embezzling government project funds.

ACC Secretary Md Saidur Rahman Khan disclosed the decisions at the commission's regular media briefing today (23 September).

According to the ACC decisions, approval has been given to file nine cases against six former MPs and their family members, five cases against two former mayors and their family members, and submit charge sheets against 18 people, including former MP Nurunnabi Chowdhury. Approval has also been given to issue notices requiring two former MPs and their wives to submit wealth statements.

A case has been approved against former Kushtia-4 MP Selim Altaf George for allegedly concealing information by understating his assets by Tk64.48 lakh in his wealth statement and acquiring Tk1.02 crore in assets beyond his known income.

A case will be filed against former MP Abdur Rauf of the same constituency for allegedly acquiring Tk2.65 crore in assets beyond his known income. A separate case has been approved against his wife, Jannatun Nahar, for allegedly acquiring Tk1.40 crore in assets beyond her known income.

The ACC has approved a case against former Kushtia-1 MP Md Rezaul Haque Chowdhury for allegedly concealing information by understating his assets by Tk37.27 lakh in his wealth statement and acquiring Tk2.47 crore in assets beyond his known income.

Former Habiganj-3 MP Md Abu Zahir has been accused of concealing information on movable and immovable assets worth Tk7.27 crore and possessing Tk9.33 crore in assets inconsistent with his known sources of income. A case has also been approved against him for allegedly transferring, handing over or converting Tk22.56 crore through four bank accounts.

A case has been approved against former Feni-3 MP Haji Raham Ullah for allegedly acquiring Tk3.84 crore in assets inconsistent with his known sources of income.

A case will be filed against former Lakshmipur-2 MP Nur Uddin Chowdhury for allegedly acquiring Tk80 lakh in assets inconsistent with his known sources of income. A separate case has been approved against his wife, Chowdhury Rubina Yasmin Lubna, for allegedly acquiring Tk1.83 crore in assets beyond her known income.

Meanwhile, a case has been approved against former mayor of Noakhali's Basurhat municipality Abdul Kader Mirza for allegedly acquiring Tk1.20 crore in assets beyond his known income. Separate cases will be filed against his wife, Akhtar Jahan Bakul, for allegedly acquiring Tk1.51 crore, and his son, Mirza Masrur Kader Tashik, for allegedly acquiring Tk81.74 lakh in assets beyond their known incomes. Abdul Kader Mirza will be named as an aider in these cases, respectively.

The ACC has approved a case against former mayor of Jashore municipality Md Zahirul Islam Chakladar for allegedly acquiring Tk24.58 crore in assets inconsistent with his known sources of income. A separate case will be filed against his wife, Shamima Sharmin, for allegedly acquiring Tk6.72 crore in assets inconsistent with her known sources of income.

Meanwhile, the ACC has approved the submission of a charge sheet to the court against 18 people, including former Bhola-3 MP Nurunnabi Chowdhury, over the alleged embezzlement of Tk35.03 lakh from government projects.

According to ACC documents, 356 projects were undertaken under the TR, Kabikha and Kabita programmes in Lalmohan and Tazumuddin upazilas during the 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 fiscal years. Of these, Tk31.72 lakh was allegedly withdrawn without carrying out any work on 11 projects, while Tk3.31 lakh was allegedly withdrawn after carrying out less work than stipulated on four other projects.

The ACC has also approved issuing notices requiring former Teknaf MP Abdur Rahman Bodi of Cox's Bazar and his wife, Shaheen Akter, to submit wealth statements.