The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has formally launched an investigation into the allegations of accumulating illegal wealth through corruption and money laundering against National Board of Revenue's (NBR) Customs, Excise and VAT Appellate Tribunal president Matiur Rahman.
It was disclosed by ACC Secretary Khorsheda Yasmin at a press conference at the ACC head office at Segunbagicha in the capital on Sunday (June 23).
A three-member committee has been constituted to probe the allegations against Matiur. Led by ACC deputy director Anwar Hossain, two other members of the committee are assistant director Mahmud Hasan and deputy assistant director Sabiqun Nahar.
The ACC Secretary told reporters that the commission on June 4 last decided to probe into the allegations of accumulating illegal wealth through corruption and money laundering against NBR member Dr Md Matiur Rahman through an investigation team. A three-member probe team has already been formed with a deputy director as the head to investigate the allegation. The team members have already started their work.
Sources concerned said ACC's Director General (Money Laundering) Md Mokammel Huque raised charges against NBR member Matiur Rahman at June 4 meeting of the ACC. It was told at the meeting that allegations of accumulating illegal wealth through corruption and money laundering were found against Matiur Rahman. Earlier, investigation against him was conducted four times after receiving same types of allegations.
Matiur Rahman's name was appeared at social media during this Eid-ul-Azha after rumors surfaced that his son Mushfiqur Rahman Iffat had purchased a goat for an astonishing Tk 15 lakh.
The exorbitant price of the goat sparked widespread attention, along with a mix of curiosity and controversy.
However, Matiur Rahman denied these claims, saying: "Iffat, the person being talked about, is neither my son nor even a relative or acquaintance. My only son's name is Toufiqur Rahman. I will formally protest these rumours."
However, it was learnt later on that Iffat is the second son of Matiur's second wife Shammi Akter Shibley.
Subsequently, scrutiny fell on Matiur Rahman and his family's lifestyle.
According to the ACC, there is a seven-storeyed house at Bashundhara D-Block in the name of Matiur Rahman and his family members. Besides, he has the share in a multi-storeyed building being built at Block-I under the supervision of Jesix, a developer company owned by Matiur.
Moreover, Matiur Rahman owns a shoe factory, called 'Global' on a 300-bigha of land near Bhaluka Seed Store area in Mymensingh, a resort in Narsingdi, a shooting spot at Pubail. The ACC suspects that there are a lot of properties in the names of Matiur Rahman and his family members at different parts of the country.
