Former MPs, mayors face ACC cases over graft

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has approved or filed 18 cases against several former MPs, their family members, mayors and a former district council official over allegations of acquiring assets beyond known sources of income, concealing wealth and money laundering.

ACC Secretary Md Saidur Rahman Khan disclosed the developments at a briefing on Wednesday.

Among those facing cases are former MPs Selin Altaf George, Abdur Rouf, Md Rezaul Haque Chowdhury, Md Abu Zahir, Haji Raham Ullah, Nur Uddin Chowdhury Nayan, Farida Yasmin and AFM Ruhul Haque, along with several of their family members.

The ACC has also approved a charge sheet against former Bhola-3 MP Nurunnabi Chowdhury and authorised notices requiring former MPs Abdur Rahman Bodi and Md Monibul Islam, along with their wives, to submit asset statements.

Former mayors Abdul Quader Mirza of Companiganj, Noakhali, and Jahirul Islam Chakladar of Jashore Municipality are also facing cases. A case has also been approved against S M Mahbubur Rahman, a former administrative officer of Khulna District Council.

The allegations include substantial discrepancies between declared wealth and known sources of income.

The ACC alleges that former Habiganj-3 MP Abu Zahir concealed assets worth Tk7.27 crore and acquired Tk9.33 crore in disproportionate assets. It also alleges that Tk22.56 crore was transferred or converted through four bank accounts.

Former Satkhira-3 MP AFM Ruhul Haque allegedly held Tk19.15 crore in assets beyond his known income and conducted suspicious transactions involving Tk116.21 crore through 39 bank accounts. His son Ziaul Haque allegedly acquired Tk8.53 crore in disproportionate assets and conducted transactions worth Tk33.84 crore through 15 accounts.

The commission also alleges that former Jashore mayor Jahirul Islam Chakladar acquired Tk24.58 crore in disproportionate assets, while former Khulna district council official S M Mahbubur Rahman allegedly acquired Tk2.52 crore and concealed Tk49.83 lakh in his wealth statement.

The allegations are subject to investigation and judicial proceedings, and the cases do not by themselves establish guilt.