The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday sought information from several government and private offices about the accumulated wealth of former state minister for housing and public works Abdul Mannan Khan and Rajshahi 4 lawmaker Enamul Haque, an official said.
He said the commission investigation officers had sent the notices separately to seven organisations, including Rajdhani Unnayan Kartipakkha (RAJUK), Dhaka City Corporation (DCC), Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB), asking them to provide information on the assets and properties of the Awami League leaders.
The ACC on January 22 assigned its deputy director M Nasir Uddin to investigate allegations of illegally acquired wealth and property by Abdul Mannan Khan and assigned deputy director Jatan Kumer Ray to investigate the wealth of lawmaker Enamul Haque.
According to commission notices, REHAB was asked to provide documents on flat and houses owned by the two leaders and their families, DSE was asked to provide documents on shares transacted by the leaders and their families, BRTA was asked to provide lists of transports and vehicles owned by the former ministers and their family members, Dhaka Zilla Sub Registrar Office was asked to provide the documents on the plots owned by the former ministers and families and Bangladesh Post Office was asked to provide documents on their saving certificates while RAJUK and DCC was asked to provide documents on the residential buildings, plot and businesses belonging to the two Awami League leaders.
After the Election Commission published the wealth statements submitted by candidates last month ahead of the 10th parliamentary polls, media reports highlighted large discrepancies between the information they had provided for the 9th general elections in 2008.
According to an analysis by Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik, the wealth statements of poll candidates in the parliamentary elections show an increase of up to 32,985% in their income.
According to the affidavits submitted to the Election Commission, the incomes of ministers increased by 243% and their wealth by 247%, while the income of state ministers increased by 464% and their wealth by 459%.