ACC conducts inventory at Ziaul Ahsan's Jalsiri residence

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday carried out an inventory operation at the eight-storey residence of former National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) Director General and dismissed Major General Ziaul Ahsan in Jalsiri, following a court order.

The operation was led by ACC Deputy Director Md Hafizul Islam. Confirming the development, ACC Deputy Director Md Akhtarul Islam said the inventory was being conducted under court directives and further details would be disclosed after the operation concludes.

On January 27, the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge's Court appointed district administrators and the Public Works Department as receivers to oversee and maintain properties attached in the names of Ziaul Ahsan and his associates. The order followed a petition filed by ACC investigation officer Md Hafizul Islam.

According to the ACC, its investigation found that Ziaul Ahsan obtained citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda in 2017 after allegedly paying US$200,000 through two Malaysian companies. The commission also alleged that he invested around US$1.35 million in five-year government bonds of the Caribbean nation.

Investigators further alleged that he laundered about Tk20 crore through an account at First Abu Dhabi Bank in Dubai and another Tk75 crore through a separate bank. The ACC also claims to have found evidence of Tk75 crore being laundered through a Malaysian bank, along with substantial funds transferred through a bank in the United States.

The ACC formed a three-member investigation committee on December 18, 2024, to investigate allegations against Ziaul Ahsan, including abuse of power, illicit wealth accumulation and money laundering.

Following the political changeover in August 2024, Bangladesh Bank froze the bank accounts of Ziaul Ahsan, his wife, children and their associated businesses as part of the investigation.

Ziaul Ahsan was commissioned into the Bangladesh Army in 1991 and later served in the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), National Security Intelligence (NSI) and NTMC. He became Director General of NTMC after the post was created in 2022.