[🇧🇩] Corruption Watch

[Saif]

ACC widens net to fight corruption

The Anti-Corruption Commission is widening its anti-graft net across the country to bring corruption suspects under its scrutiny over amassing illegal wealth and...

www.newagebd.net

ACC widens net to fight corruption
Solamain Salman 20 August, 2024, 23:51

The Anti-Corruption Commission is widening its anti-graft net across the country to bring corruption suspects under its scrutiny over amassing illegal wealth and money laundering.

A huge number of corruption allegations gathered at the commission, but the scrutiny could not be carried out due to pressure from ruling groups during the successive tenures of now deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, ACC officials said.

With Hasina resigning as prime minister and fleeing to India amid the student-led mass uprising on August 5, ACC officials said they have now gathered courage and strength to scrutinise graft allegations against many powerful people.

After Hasina’s fall, the commission has intensified its activities to catch the corruption suspects, while complaints have already been submitted to the commission against several dozen former ministers, lawmakers, bureaucrats, and businesspeople, said officials concerned.

As a part of the fresh ACC move, the commission has prepared a primary list of around 200 graft suspects to bring them under ACC net for inquiry, a director general of the commission told New Age on Tuesday.

Apart from starting new inquiries, the commission also took initiatives to dispose of pending inquiries and cases, a task that it could not complete due to political pressures, commission officials said.

As part of the fresh move, the ACC launched inquiries against 63 individuals in the past four working days for graft allegations.

The 63 graft suspects include 20 former ministers, 30 former lawmakers, two former bureaucrats, two top police officials, and two former officials of the Prime Minister’s Office.

ACC on Tuesday took decisions to conduct inquiries against seven people, including former shipping minister Shajahan Khan and primary and mass education minister Mostafizur Rahman Fizar, over their alleged involvement in amassing illegal wealth.

The decision came at a meeting held at the agency’s headquarters with commission chairman Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah in the chair.

The other five graft suspects are former lawmakers Jannat Ara Henry, Ashim Kumar Ukil and his wife Opu Ukil, the prime minister’s former deputy press secretary Ashraful Alam Khokon, and the PMO staff, Jahangir Alam.

The allegations against the two former ministers and three lawmakers include amassing a huge amount of movable and immovable wealth illegally through corruption and irregularities during the past three consecutive terms of the Awami League government.

The ACC decided to conduct an inquiry against the former prime minister’s former deputy press secretary, Ashraful Alam Khokon, over allegations of amassing illegal wealth.

Khokon, during his tenure as the former PM’s deputy press secretary from August 18, 2013 to February 2021, amassed several hundred crores of money through corruption and irregularities, according to allegations.

The allegations said Khokon was involved in gold syndicates, currency smuggling, and illegal VoIP businesses.

Khokon amassed several crores of money in the name of himself and his family members through taking bribes and financial benefits from various business entities, including Nagad and Max Group, according to the allegations.

ACC also initiated another inquiry against the former PMO household staff, Jahangir Alam, who allegedly amassed wealth worth Tk 400 crore.

Jahangir and his family members have plots of land and houses in the capital and in his village home in Noakhali.

About the intensified ACC move, ACC secretary Khorsheda Yasmeen told New Age that they got allegations against ministers, lawmakers, and others earlier, but there was a delay in taking decisions due to ‘procedural causes.’

About the move, Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman told New Age that the move might be viewed as welcome news, quite belated though, in the backdrop of the self-inflicted credibility gap of the ACC.

‘While people will expect to see specific progress to ensure exemplary accountability of such erstwhile high-profile individuals for their abuse of power, this will remain yet another example that ACC tends to act against the so-called big fish only when they are out of power,’ he said.

It will not be unjustified to question that by failing to take action before their humiliating downfall, the ACC has in reality protected their corruption and violated their own mandate as well as the relevant law, he observed.

‘Be that as it may, nothing can justify any underestimation of the imperatives for a thorough overhaul of this institution as part of the state-restructuring to meet the aspirations of a new Bangladesh as articulated by the student-led people’s uprising,’ he said.

On Monday, the ACC took decisions to conduct inquiries against the ousted AL government’s 45 ministers, state ministers, lawmakers, secretaries, and beneficiaries on the charges of amassing illegal wealth through corruption.

Most of the former lawmakers and ministers, however, of the ousted government have either fled or gone into hiding since the fall of the regime through a mass uprising.

ACC also decided to start an inquiry against the former senior secretary for the disaster management and relief ministry Shah Kamal over allegations of corruption, abuse of power, misconduct, bribery, and amassing illegal wealth.

The commission launched an inquiry on Monday also against former Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University vice-chancellor Professor Sharfuddin Ahmed and his private secretary Russell over allegations of receiving bribes of around Tk 100 crore through illegal appointments.

Apart from this, it also started an inquiry against the National Board of Revenue’s second secretary Arjina Khatun on the charges of amassing illegal wealth.

On Sunday, ACC started an inquiry against former finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal’s wife Kashmeri Kamal, their daughter Nafisa Kamal, and three former lawmakers over allegations of embezzling Tk 20,000 crore by operating a syndicate to send workers to Malaysia.

The three former lawmakers are retired lieutenant general Masud Uddin Chowdhury, Nizam Uddin Hazari, and Benazir Ahmed.

The commission also decided to run an inquiry against former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed, former Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, and DMP’s former Detective Branch chief Harun Or Rashid.

Earlier on Thursday, the commission decided to initiate an inquiry against former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan and five others over amassing illegal wealth through taking bribes and money laundering.​

 

[Saif]

Stop extortion in transport sector

Extortion is one of the key reasons for the chaos and lawlessness in the transport sector

www.thedailystar.net

Stop extortion in transport sector
Bringing discipline in this vital sector is paramount

VISUAL: STAR

It is disturbing to know that soon after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, BNP-affiliated transport leaders have emerged on the scene and taken control of major transport organisations across the country. According to a Prothom Alo report, the offices of Dhaka Road Transport Owners' Association and Bangladesh Road Transport Owners' Association, from where the transport sector used to be controlled by Awami League leaders, are now under the control of their BNP counterparts. Similarly, BNP men have taken control of almost all other transport organisations, bus terminals, and workers' unions.

Understandably, the main objective behind their push is to get their hands on extortion money. Reportedly, every year, around Tk 2,000 crore is collected by the transport owners' and workers' associations through extortion across the country. While about Tk 70 is collected openly from each bus or truck every day, there are various other fees, including "gate pass" fees or membership fees, that are collected from transport operators as daily, monthly, and sometimes one-time donations. According to a Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) study published in March, politically connected individuals or groups, traffic and highway police, Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) officials, transport organisations, and staffers of municipalities or city corporations all get a share of this money, which shows how pervasive this culture of extortion has been.

The manoeuvring and manipulation of the public transport system remains a perennial source of pain and suffering for commuters and non-commuters alike.

Unfortunately, the transport sector is just one example where BNP-linked men are taking control of important public sectors. After the fall of Awami League, we have seen how BNP-affiliated people have been trying to assert their control in every other sector, such as the health sector. Recently, we have also seen how groups claiming allegiance to the BNP have been trying to take control of slums and footpaths in the city. This tendency must stop urgently.

Extortion is one of the key reasons for the chaos and lawlessness in the transport sector, so the interim government must find a sustainable solution to this problem. The transport organisations, including powerful owners' and workers' associations, must be represented by honest individuals who can save this sector from the crippling influences of corruption and irregularities, which have led to our roads becoming one of the most dangerous in the world. Reform of state institutions was a major goal of the student-led mass movement; and to attain that goal, politicisation of vital public sectors including transport must stop.​

 

[Saif]

Eliminate scope to whiten black money

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) yesterday demanded the abolishment of a provision that allows black money to be whitened without scrutiny by paying a 15 percent tax.

www.thedailystar.net

Eliminate scope to whiten black money
FBCCI urges NBR

The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) yesterday demanded the abolishment of a provision that allows black money to be whitened without scrutiny by paying a 15 percent tax.

The apex trade body voiced the demand during a meeting with Md Abdur Rahman Khan, newly appointed chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in Dhaka, according to a press release.

"There cannot be any discrimination between honest and corrupt taxpayers. This type of amnesty should never be given again to ensure justice and remove social discrimination," said FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam.

Such a provision can never be desired when building a corruption-free society or state, he added.

Other members of the delegation included FBCCI Vice-President Md Munir Hussain and Directors Mohammad Fayazur Rahman Bhuiyan, MA Razzak Khan, and Abul Kasem Khan.

On his first day in the NBR office, Khan told reporters that the scope to whiten black money should not exist at all

"The amnesty for black money is unexpected and indecent," he said.

Alam also called on the NBR chairman to simplify customs duty processes for imported goods to ensure a business-friendly environment by removing complexities related to duty values, HS codes and product descriptions.

They further urged him to curb the harassment of taxpayers during audits and dishonest practices by officials.

To this end, they proposed creating a hotline, app or complaint centre for businesspeople that face harassment.

They also suggested that taxation should be automated, including the management of value-added tax (VAT) and income tax, and ensuring speedy implementation of the National Single Window (NSW).

Alam also emphasised the need to bring eligible taxpayers under the income tax net to increase the nation's tax-GDP ratio.

He added that the NBR needed reforms. In particular, it is important to separate policy and policy implementation, he said.

Appreciating the NBR's plan to review the existing tax rules by forming three task forces, the businessmen requested that all stakeholders concerned be included as members.

The new NBR chairman told businessmen that the participation of private sector stakeholders in the task forces, including from the FBCCI, would be ensured.

"We'll try to ease the business environment in the country. The NBR will remain alert so that there is no injustice against businessmen," Khan added.

He also urged businesspeople to provide specific information about dishonest officials and conduct commercial activities sincerely.​

 

[Saif]

ACC accelerates anti-graft drives across Bangladesh

The Anti-Corruption Commission’s activities to bring corruption suspects under scrutiny are gathering pace following the August 5 fall of the Awami League government amid...

www.newagebd.net

ACC accelerates anti-graft drives across Bangladesh
Solamain Salman 01 September, 2024, 00:37

The Anti-Corruption Commission’s activities to bring corruption suspects under scrutiny are gathering pace following the August 5 fall of the Awami League government amid a student-led mass uprising.

The commission has also expedited its probes into new graft allegations, while it has widened its net in a bid to bring more individuals under scrutiny after the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government had taken charge on August 8.

The anti-corruption agency’s data shows that it took decision for 93 new enquiries, mostly regarding relatively smaller corruption charges, from April 1 to June 30, this year.

But it took decision for new enquiries against around 100 people, including heavyweights like former ministers, lawmakers and bureaucrats, within only 12 working days of the new government.

During the time of the Awami League rule, numerous allegations against powerful individuals regarding amassing illegal wealth through corruption, irregularities, money laundering, and abuse of power were gathered at the commission.

The commission could not carry out investigation into these allegations due to pressure from corners associated with the then ruling Awami League, said its officials.

Now that the Awami League is no more in power and the hindrances are removed, the commission now feels strong enough to probe the graft allegations against many formerly powerful individuals, including former ministers, lawmakers, and money launderers, officials said.

Transparency International Bangladesh executive director Iftekharuzzaman told New Age that the commission’s fresh move might be viewed as welcome news, quite belated though, in the backdrop of the self-inflicted credibility gap of the agency.

‘While people will expect to see specific progress to ensure exemplary accountability of such erstwhile high-profile individuals for their abuse of power, this will remain yet another example that ACC tends to act against the so-called big fish only when they are out of power,’ Iftekharuzzaman said.

It would not be unjustified to question that by failing to take action before their humiliating downfall, the anti-corruption agency had in reality protected their corruption and violated their own mandate as well as the relevant law, he observed.

‘Be that as it may, nothing can justify any underestimation of the imperatives for a thorough overhaul of this institution as part of the state-restructuring to meet the aspirations of a new Bangladesh as articulated by the student-led people’s uprising,’ he said.

The anti-corruption commission, meanwhile, is going to launch a combined drive against corruption and to recover illegal money from this week, said a top official of the commission on Thursday.

The drive will be conducted led by its enforcement unit with the help of its other based on the information of its intelligence wing, he added.

The commission in the past week also formed a panel to maintain the anti-corruption operations and support the law enforcement agencies.

The panel includes its deputy directors Debabrata Mondal, Md Humayun Kabir, Md Saiful Islam, and Md Tajul Islam Bhuiyan, and assistant directors Muhammad Zafar Sadeq Shibli and Shoyeb Ibne Alam.

The panel will assist in seizing evidence and handling legal matters during search operations.

Notably, after the interim government assumed power the commission is opening new enquiries one after another and resumed enquiries in pending probes.

Earlier, after submission of an allegation, scrutiny used to be kept long pending, but now it starts inquiry within 2–3 days of the submission of allegations.

Apart from starting new inquiries, the commission has also undertaken initiatives to dispose of pending inquiries and cases, a task that it could not complete due to political pressures, commission officials said.

After Hasina’s fall, the commission took decision to run inquiry against a number of former ministers, state ministers, lawmakers, secretaries, and beneficiaries on the charges of amassing illegal wealth through corruption.

As part of its fresh move, the commission has prepared a primary list of at least 200 graft suspects to bring them under its scrutiny, one of its directors general told New Age.

The commission’s inquiries have already been launched against a number of formerly powerful ministers, lawmakers, and businesspeople, including former ministers Asaduzzaman Khan, Dipu Moni, Anisul Huq, Hasan Mahmud, Golam Dastagir Gazi, Shajahan Khan, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed, Mostafizur Rahman Fizar, Tipu Munshi, Sadan Chandra Majumder, Imran Ahmed, and Mohibul Hassan Chowdhuey, former state ministers Nasrul Hamid, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Jakir Hossain, Kamal Ahmed Mojumder, and Sharif Ahmed, former lawmakers retired lieutenant general Masud Uddin Chowdhury, Nizam Uddin Hazari, Benazir Ahmed, Dhirendro Debnath Shambhu, Jannat Ara Henry, Ashim Kumar Ukil, Opu Ukil, and Shahe Alam, and the prime minister’s former deputy press secretary Ashraful Alam Khokon, former Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University vice-chancellor Sharfuddin Ahmed, former cabinet secretary Kabir Bin Anwar, former senior secretary Shah Kamal, National Board of Revenue second secretary Arjina Khatun, former Dhaka Metropolitan Police commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia, and DMP’s former Detective Branch chief Harun Or Rashid, S Alam group chairman Mohammed Saiful Alam, and Padma bank former chairman Chowdhury Nafeez Sarafat.

About the commission’s intensified move, its secretary Khorsheda Yasmeen said that they received allegations against ministers, lawmakers, and others earlier but there was a delay in taking decisions due to ‘procedural causes.’

‘We are starting new inquiries following the ACC law, and there is no special anything,’ she added.​

 

[Saif]

All govt employees asked to submit wealth statements

The government has asked all government employees to submit their wealth statements

www.thedailystar.net

All govt employees asked to submit wealth statements

The government has asked all government employees to submit their wealth statements.

Dr Md Mokhles ur Rahman Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration gave the instruction today, said Mohammad Zakir Hossain, senior information officer of the ministry.

On August 25, Prof Muhammad Yunus, chief adviser to the interim government, in his address to the nation said, "Government employees should regularly submit their wealth statements.‍"

"All our advisers will publish their asset details as soon as possible. Regular asset disclosure will be made mandatory for all government servants," he added.​

 

[Saif]

Judiciary staff must submit wealth statements in 10 working days

Law Adviser Asif Nazrul today said officials and employees of the judiciary have to submit their wealth statements within 10 working days.

www.thedailystar.net

Judiciary staff must submit wealth statements in 10 working days
Says Asif Nazrul

Asif Nazrul

Law Adviser Asif Nazrul today said officials and employees of the judiciary have to submit their wealth statements within 10 working days.

The adviser said this at a press briefing at the law ministry.

He further said all false and fraudulent cases filed between July 1 and August 5 in Dhaka city centring student movement will be withdrawn by Thursday.

Besides, all the cases filed against protesters of quota-reform movement for harassment would be withdrawn by August 31, he added.​

 

[Saif]

ACC yet to take legal action against Benazir, Matiur

The Anti-Corruption Commission has yet to take legal action against former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed and former National Board of Revenue official Matiur Rahman over...

www.newagebd.net

ACC yet to take legal action against Benazir, Matiur
Solamain Salman 02 September, 2024, 00:12

Benazir Ahmed and Matiur Rahman

The Anti-Corruption Commission has yet to take legal action against former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed and former National Board of Revenue official Matiur Rahman over amassing illegal wealth.

Although, the commission, during its recent inquiry, found a vast amount of movable and immovable assets owned by Benazir, Matiur and their family members, as of Sunday it has not filed any case in this regard.

Amid massive allegations of corruption, the anti-corruption agency on April 18 decided to run an inquiry into the assets of Benazir and his family members, but Benazir left the country 15 days after the probe had been launched.

Before his departure, the former police chief withdrew an enormous amount of money from his bank accounts, and now he, along with his family, is enjoying a luxurious life abroad thanks to the poor surveillance of the anti-corruption commission.

Nearly four and a half months have elapsed since the beginning of the inquiry, but the commission has yet to file a case against him despite available information of corruption against him.

On July 2, the commission issued a notice asking Benazir and family members to submit their wealth statements to the commission within 21 working days, which the former police chief and his family grossly ignored.

The inquiry against Benazir and his family completed quite a while ago, and an inquiry report was also submitted to the commission, but the commission continued to delay its decision over filing a case, said an officer involved in the probe.

On June 4, the commission decided to launch an inquiry into the corruption allegations against former National Board of Revenue member Matiur Rahman and his family members, but that inquiry has not finished, nor has a case been filed.

As per the commission rules, an officer gets a maximum of 75 days to complete an inquiry, but the probe against Matiur and his family is yet to be completed although three months have elapsed after the launch of the inquiry and all necessary information has been gathered by now, according to commission officials.

Earlier, during its inquiry the anti-corruption agency applied to a court for imposing a travel ban on Matiur, saying that facing corruption allegations his second wife and their son left the country and Matiur himself was trying to flee.

On July 2, the same day it asked Benazir for wealth statement, the agency also issued a notice to Matiur and his family members asking them to submit wealth statements within 21 working days. Like Benazir, Matiur and his family also completely disregarded the notice and have not submitted their wealth statements till now.

As the commission has not filed a case against or arrested Matiur despite having information that he owned massive wealth beyond known sources of income, the former revenue board official continues to go scot free.

Commission secretary Khorsheda Yasmeen confirmed that the agency issued notices asking Benazir and Matiur and their family members to submit wealth statements within 21 working days.

She said that the preliminary probe found information that they had acquired assets beyond known sources of income.

The commission would take legal action against them soon as per law, she added.

An Anti-Corruption Commission inquiry team submitted its report to the authority on July 1, mentioning that they found Benazir to amass illegal wealth of around Tk 44 crore.

The inquiry report stated that Benazir amassed illegal wealth worth around Tk 9.25 crore, and his wife Jissan Mirza owned Tk 21.34 crore. Their elder daughter Farheen Rishta amassed illegal wealth worth Tk 8.10 crore, and another daughter Tahseen Raisa owned wealth worth Tk 4.76 crore.

The inquiry report said that the value shown in the deed of immovable property was taken into consideration in the report.

The inquiry also found that 25 acres of land at Bandarban Sadar was taken on lease in Benazir Ahmed’s name, two plots in the names of Benazir and his wife Jissan Mirza in Munshiganj, Jissan Mirza also owned a seven-storey building at the capital’s Uttara, and six flats in Dhaka’s Adabar area.

The value of these assets was not mentioned anywhere, and the value of these assets has not been determined in the inquiry, said the report.

Following a petition by the commission, a Dhaka court ordered the seizure of a total of 697 bigha of land in Gopalganj, Madaripur, Cox’s Bazar, Bandarban, and Narayanganj districts, 12 flats in Dhaka, and shares in 21 companies—all owned by Benazir and his family.

The court also ordered freezing of a Tk 30 lakh investment in savings certificates, 33 bank accounts, and three Beneficiary Owner’s accounts.

The anti-corruption agency, meanwhile, found massive movable and immovable wealth owned by Matiur and his family members.

Following its petitions, a Dhaka court seized 3,523 decimal land, and shares of 19 companies, and also ordered to freeze Tk 13.44 crore in 116 bank accounts and 23 beneficiary owner’s (BO) accounts.

The court also ordered the seizure of eight apartments in Dhaka, a multi-storey building in the Bashundhara residential area, owned by Matiur and his family.

Matiur was president of the revenue board’s Customs, Excise, and VAT Appellate Tribunal before his removal from the position by the finance ministry on June 23, following the goat scandal involving his son that brought his assets under public scrutiny.

The former revenue board official is now facing an anti-corruption inquiry for the fifth time in the past two decades.

In 2004, the commission launched the first inquiry against Matiur, which was followed by three more enquiries in 2008, 2013, and 2021 without any breakthrough.

Matiur was exposed to public scrutiny after video footage went viral on social media showing his second wife’s son, Mushfiqur Rahman Ifat, buying a goat for Tk 12 lakh ahead of Eid-ul-Azha in June.

He initially denied Ifat as his son which was subsequently proved a lie. Speaking to a television channel, Matiur denied any wrongdoing, saying that the anti-corruption commission gave him clean chits four times in the past.​

 

[Saif]

ACC moves for travel ban on ex-MPs, ministers

The Anti-Corruption Commission has moved to impose international travel bans on a number of former ministers, lawmakers and bureaucrats of the ousted...

www.newagebd.net

ACC moves for travel ban on ex-MPs, ministers
Solamain Salman 01 September, 2024, 17:07

| File photo

The Anti-Corruption Commission has moved to impose international travel bans on a number of former ministers, lawmakers and bureaucrats of the ousted Awami League government, now facing massive allegations of amassing illegal wealth and money laundering.

Commission deputy director Md Jahangir Alam on Sunday submitted an application to court seeking a travel ban on 10 people, including former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, over corruption allegations against them, while in another development, the graft watchdog decided to launch inquiries against former ministers SM Rezaul Karim and Monnujan Sufian and three others.

Accepting the petition, Judge Mohammed Ash Shams Joglul Hossain of the Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court in Dhaka issued the travel ban.

The nine others facing the travel ban are Asaduzzaman’s wife Lutful Tahmina Khan, son Shafi Midassir Khan, and daughter Safia Tasnim Khan, home ministry’s current joint secretary Dhananjoy Kumar Das and former additional secretary Md Harun-or-Rashid Biswas, the ministry’s public relations officer Sharif Mahmud Apu, administrative officer Mollah Ibrahim Hossain, home minister’s assistant personal secretary Monir Hossain, and former deputy inspector general of police Mollah Nazrul Islam.

In yet another development, Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court on Sunday ordered the authorities concerned to freeze 19 banks of Shah Kamal, former senior secretary to the disaster management and relief ministry, and his wife Farzana Siddiqua in connection with graft allegations.

Judge Mohammad Ash-Shams Joglul Hossain passed the order following a petition submitted by commission deputy director Md Mahbubul Alam, also the inquiry officer of the matter, said the agency’s public prosecutor Mahmud Hossain Jahangir.

Shah Kamal has Tk 5.75 crore in 12 accounts, while Tk 3.76 crore was found deposited in seven bank accounts of his wife.

Mahbubul Alam in his petition said that the couple had amassed a massive amount of money through illegal means and potential money laundering might happen if their bank accounts were not frozen immediately.

On August 17, the police arrested Shah Kamal from Dhaka’s Mohakhali area and he was sent to jail following court order.

Shah Kamal served as secretary from 2015 to 2019 and as a senior secretary from 2019 to 2020.

At least 60 people, including 27 former ministers and lawmakers, are coming under the international travel ban in three phases with 24 of them have already been issued travel bans, said anti-corruption officials.

Commission officials said that a handful of former ministers and lawmakers, bureaucrats, and their family members amassed a huge amount of illegal wealth through corruption in the past three terms of the Awami League government.

Most of the former lawmakers and ministers of the ousted Awami League government have either fled the country or gone into hiding since the fall of the regime through a student-led mass uprising on August 5.

Some of the former ministers and lawmakers left the country just before the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, while other former ministers and lawmakers facing corruption allegations are reportedly trying to flee.

Earlier in the first phase on August 29, the same court issued a travel ban on 14 former ministers and lawmakers accepting a petition submitted by the commission’s deputy director Abu Hena Ashiqur Rahman.

The first phase travel ban was issued against five former full ministers—Dipu Moni of social welfare; Zahid Maleque of health; Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury of education; Sadhan Chandra Majumder of food; Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun of industries; one deputy minister —Kamal Ahmed Majumder of industries; and eight former lawmakers—Salim Uddin; Mamunur Rashid Kiron; Kujendra Lal Tripura; Kajim Uddin; Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury Liton; Shahjahan Khan; Kamrul Islam; and Ziaur Rahman.

Also a five-member team led by anti-corruption deputy director Mostafizur Rahman investigating graft charges against 13 former ministers and lawmakers submitted an application to the commission last week for issuing a travel ban on all the 13 suspects.

The suspects are two former full ministers—Mohammad Hasan Mahmud of foreign affairs, Imran Ahmed of expatriate welfare and overseas employment; six former state ministers—Nasrul Hamid of power and energy; Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury of shipping; Zunaid Ahmed Palak of ICT; Zakir Hossain of primary and mass education; Meher Afroz Chumki of women and child affairs; Swapan Bhattacharya of local government, rural development and cooperatives; and five former lawmakers—Sarwar Jahan (Kushtia-1); Sheikh Afil Uddin (Jessore-1); Enamul Haque (Rajshahi-4); Abu Sayeed Al Mahmud Swapan (Jaipurhat-2); and Sheikh Helal (Bagerhat-1).

Still another inquiry team led by commission deputy director Jahangir Alam applied to the anti-corruption authority seeking travel ban yet another set of 13 other former ministers and lawmakers.

These 13 individuals are—seven full former ministers—Tipu Munshi of commerce; Anisul Huq of law; Tajul Islam of local government; Faridul Haque Khan of religious affairs; Hasanul Haque Inu of information; Golam Dastgir Gazi of textiles and jute; and former minister and Jatiya Party leader Anwar Hossain Manju; two former state ministers—Enamur Rahman of relief and disaster; and Zahid Ahsan Russell of youth and sports; and four former lawmakers—Benazir Ahmed (Dhaka-20); Kazi Nabil Ahmed (Jessore-3); Mohibbur Rahman (Patuakhali-4); and Shahidul Islam Bakul (Natore-1).

The anti-corruption commission on Sunday further decided to launch enquiries against five people, including former minister SM Rezaul Karim and state minister Begum Monnujan Sufian, over amassing illegal wealth through corruption.

The commission took the decision from its Segun Bagicha headquarters in Dhaka, said its secretary Khorsheda Yasmeen while talking to journalists at her office on the day.

The three other people to face its investigation are former state minister Monnujan’s assistant personal secretary and also her younger brother Md Sahabuddin, Sahabuddin’s daughter Shamima Sultana, and Monnujan’s sister’s son Yashin Arafat.

According to the allegations, Rezaul Karim, a former lawmaker of Pirojpur-1 constituency, amassed illegal wealth at home and aboard by means of irregularities, corruption and unethical activities through abuse of power.

He allegedly became owner of immovable assets at various places in Nazirpur of Barishal, Pirojpur and Dhaka, while he embezzled Tk 25 crore in the name of purchasing equipment and holding training under the ‘Livestock and Dairy Development’ project during his tenure as fisheries and livestock minister.

According to allegations, former state minister for labour and employment Begum Monnujan Sufian, her assistant personal secretary and younger brother Md Sahabuddin, his daughter Shamima Sultana, and her nephew Yashin Arafat amassed illegal wealth through corruptive practices and abuse of power.

Monnujan faces allegations of amassing illegal wealth, including a five-katha plot from Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha in Dhaka’s Sector-10, a three-storey house in Khulna, two cars, and 16.07 katha land at Moyuri Housing implemented by the Khulna Development Authority.

Md Sahabuddin, Shamima Sultana, and Yashin Arafat amassed wealth through illegally negotiating job appointments, postings and promotions during Monnujan’s tenure as state minister.

When asked, commission secretary Khorsheda Yasmeen said, ‘We are imposing travel ban on graft suspects as per law through court’s approval so they cannot flee the country.’​

 

[Saif]

NBR scraps provision to whiten black money

The tax administration issued a notification in this regard today.

www.thedailystar.net

NBR scraps provision to whiten black money

Illustration: Collected

The National Board of Revenue has cancelled the provision which allowed taxpayers to whiten black money without scrutiny by paying a 15 percent tax.

The tax authority issued a notification in this regard today.

The development comes a few days after Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the environment adviser, told journalists that the interim government would scrap the provision.

The exemption allowed taxpayers to legalise undeclared income without facing any questions about the source of wealth. However, the taxpayer would have to pay a 15 percent tax on their assets, including cash, for the current fiscal year.

The decision drew sharp criticism from economists, trade bodies and civil society.​

 

[Saif]

Disclosure of assets by state officials a much-needed step

Authorities must check corruption by government employees

www.thedailystar.net

Disclosure of assets by state officials a much-needed step
Authorities must check corruption by government employees

VISUAL: STAR

We commend the interim government for its instruction to all government employees to submit their wealth statements. A senior secretary at the Ministry of Public Administration has also warned that those who will not do so will face punishment. Currently, public employees are required to declare their movable and immovable assets at the time of joining the service, and later to submit wealth statements every five years. However, in reality, they hardly comply with these rules. The lack of accountability has given rise to corruption in many forms. So, making asset disclosures mandatory is a welcome step indeed.

It may be recalled that when the Government Servant (Conduct) Rules-1979 was formulated, government officials were required to submit wealth statements every year. But in 2002, the rules were amended to extend the period of disclosure to five years. On what justifications were the rules changed still remains a question. But then, as if to give public officials a further scope to get involved in corruption, the public administration ministry earlier this year pushed for a change that would have done away with the obligation to submit wealth statements, instead proposing that employees' asset records be collected from their annual tax returns filed with the National Board of Revenue. Clearly, these amendments and proposals were made to grant concessions to public employees.

Over the past few decades, we have seen how corruption has spread in every sector in the country, from banking to health to energy to transport to construction. Corruption in the public sector is primarily enabled by public officials, and it starts with their very recruitment process. We have recently come across many reports on how question paper leaks have become a regular phenomenon in the BCS exams. Although the Awami League government routinely insisted on "zero tolerance" against corruption, in reality, it did little to uproot it. We witnessed how money laundering and bad loans almost crippled our economy. We saw how investigations into corruption cases were obstructed by the government machinery. The Anti-Corruption Commission, meant to check corruption in public service, could hardly play its mandated role.

These trends must be changed. The time has come to reverse this scenario and build an administration based on accountability and transparency. The mandatory disclosure of assets by government officials can be the first step towards achieving that goal. All advisers of the interim government should also publish their asset details to express their solidarity with this move. People have high expectations from the interim government, and they must not fail them.​

 

[Saif]

Real estate still a haven for black money

The scope for legalising undisclosed income without facing any questions remains as the tax administration has not scrapped the provision of whitening black money in case of the purchase of flats and land, raising criticism.

www.thedailystar.net

Real estate still a haven for black money

The scope for legalising undisclosed income without facing any questions remains as the tax administration has not scrapped the provision of whitening black money in case of the purchase of flats and land, raising criticism.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) on Sunday scrapped the provision of legalising undeclared income on payment of 15 percent tax on assets, including cash, securities, deposits, financial schemes and instruments.

The development came about amidst demands from various sections of the society to withdraw the amnesty offered by the Awami League government that was ousted in a mass uprising last month.

But the revenue administration did not cancel the amnesty to whiten black money in case of investment in real estate -- flats, buildings and land -- on payment of a specific amount of tax depending on the size and location of the properties.

Accordingly, it fixed Tk 15,000 per square metre as the maximum amount of tax for investment in land in Dhaka's Gulshan, Banani, Motijheel, Tejgaon, Dhanmondi and Shahbagh.

The specific tax for the purchase of flats and establishments is Tk 6,000 for each square metre.

The NBR officials said the tax administration cancelled the provision of legalising undisclosed cash, securities, and deposits on payment of 15 percent tax in line with the directive from high-ups of the interim government.

Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), said it was a welcome relief and seemed consistent with the key spirit of anti-discrimination in the vision of the "new Bangladesh".

"However, it will be extremely disappointing if at the operational level any loopholes are left, apparently deliberately, to keep the same provision for investment in any sector or sub-sector such as real estate," he said.

He said this would mean that discrimination would continue, as black money holders would be rewarded instead of being held to account.

It will also imply that by giving discriminatory advantages to illicit income earners, their monopolistic control of these sectors will be further entrenched and such sectors will become more prohibitive for honest earners, he said.

"In reality, it will be a corruption-encouraging decision, which the interim government cannot afford to allow," said the TIB executive director.

He also called for reviewing the matter in the true spirit of the anti-discrimination movement in general and corruption control in particular.

Snehasish Barua, managing director of SMAC Advisory Services Ltd, said, "If the intention was to cancel the scope of legalising undisclosed assets, then it should have been completely withdrawn rather than being offered a partial withdrawal."

"There is still scope for such voluntary disclosure for land and apartments under this scheme, meaning we are welcoming undisclosed assets in real estate with absolute amnesty provision," he added.

Barua said it might have been more appropriate to fully withdraw this scheme, considering the fact that the Income Tax Act 2023 already provides for the legalisation of investments in buildings and apartments, unless it is acquired through an illegal source of income through criminal activity.

The NBR gave the opportunity to taxpayers to legalise undisclosed assets without facing any questions about the sources of income for the two consecutive years from fiscal year 2020-21.

It also kept a provision that taxmen will consider the source of funds as explained if taxpayers pay a specific amount of tax in case of investment in flats depending on the size and location of the property.

The provision has been kept in effect for the current fiscal year.

Contacted, NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman Khan said, "I can only comment after analysing the issue. If anybody earns money unlawfully and no agency cannot ask, such provision is not supposed to be in there."

He said the scope to invest undisclosed money for the purchase of flats and land is not new. It has been continuing over the years. "The tax rate is high," he said.

Professor Mustafizur Rahman, a distinguished fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), said there is an official rate of properties including land depending on mouza.

But in reality, properties are transferred at higher than the officially fixed rates. This discrepancy creates a huge amount of undisclosed money, he said.

The government should find a way out so that the buyers and sellers can show the transfer value of properties, he said.

Since Bangladesh gained independence, schemes to legalise undeclared money have been introduced at least 22 times. But the response has been lukewarm.

According to data from the NBR, nearly Tk 45,522 crore was whitened between 1972 and 2022, with the revenue collector getting Tk 4,641 crore in taxes in total.

In FY21, a record Tk 20,600 crore was whitened, yielding the NBR Tk 2,064 crore.

In FY'07, the caretaker government offered the scope to legalise black money following the payment of a penalty, which is not normally levied. That year, Tk 9,682 crore was whitened.​

 

[Saif]

ACC decides to investigate ex-army chief

The Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday decided to initiate an inquiry against former army chief retired General Aziz Ahmed over allegations of amassing a huge amount of illegal wealth at home and abroad...

www.newagebd.net

ACC decides to investigate ex-army chief
Staff Correspondent 04 September, 2024, 18:22

Aziz Ahmed | File photo

The Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday decided to initiate an inquiry against former army chief retired General Aziz Ahmed over allegations of amassing a huge amount of illegal wealth at home and abroad.

The commission also decided to start an inquiry against former Feni-2 constituency lawmaker Nizam Uddin Hazari over allegations of amassing illegal assets through corruption and abusing power.

Besides, former chief whip of Jatiya Sangsad Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury and four other former lawmakers, scheduled to appear on Wednesday, did not appear at the ACC for facing interrogation over allegations of amassing illegal assets.

ACC secretary Khorsheda Yasmeen told journalists that the commission took decisions on inquiries against former army chief Aziz and former lawmaker Nizam Hazari based on graft allegations.

She also said that there were allegations that Aziz purchased plots and flats in different places, including in Dhaka, through abusing power, corruption, and misconduct.

According to the allegations, Aziz has built a luxurious bungalow house, spending Tk 100 crore, while he has houses in DOHS at Mirpur and Nikunja in Dhaka.

He also purchased houses and several hundred bighas of land in the names of his younger brothers, including Tofayel Ahmed in Dhaka.

The former army chief laundered money through hundi and banking channels for conducting business and purchasing property in Malaysia, Singapore, and Dubai.

Recent reports suggested that Aziz’s brother Haris Ahmed used the alias Mohammad Hasan to obtain a national identity card, falsely mentioning Suleman Sarkar and Rahela Begum as his parents.

Additionally, he changed his photo on his NID card in 2019, with the recommendation for the change coming from his brother Aziz when he was the army chief.

Aziz’s brother Tofael Ahmed, alias Joseph, possessed two NID cards—one under his actual name with parents listed as Abdul Wadud and Renuja Begum, and another under the name Tanvir Ahmed Tanjeel, with different parent names.

Aziz’s corruption issue came to the fore after the United States imposed sanctions on Aziz Ahmed and his immediate family members on May 21, citing his alleged involvement in serious corruption.

Aziz served as the chief of army staff from June 2018 to June 2021 and also led the Border Guard Bangladesh from 2012 to 2016.

Aziz, the eldest among five brothers, had siblings who made headlines for criminal activities such as murder, extortion, and illegal possession of firearms during the 1990s and 2000s.

Joseph, in particular, was implicated in 10 cases related to extortion and illegal firearms possession.

In 2004, Joseph was sentenced to death while Haris and another brother, Anis, were sentenced to life imprisonment in a murder case.

The spotlight intensified on Aziz Ahmed when Joseph was granted clemency in the murder case in 2018, followed by similar actions for Haris and Anis in 2019.

An Al-Jazeera documentary ‘All the prime minister’s men,’ aired on February 1, 2021, alleged that Aziz misused his influence to secure contracts for his convicted brothers.

Meanwhile, former chief whip Noor-e-Alam Chowdhury, former minister Qamrul Islam, and three other former lawmakers did not appear at the commission on Wednesday.

Qamrul Islam submitted a petition through his lawyer seeking time, but the rest of the four did not respond to the notices.

Earlier, the ACC summoned them, asking them to appear in person at the commission.

The other three are former state minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Kujendra Lal Tripura and two former AL lawmakers, Ziaur Rahman and Qashim Uddin Ahmed.​