The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday assigned seven officials to investigate three former ministers and four members of parliament from the ruling Awami League, following reports of a phenomenal rise in their wealth and assets.
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.
Following news reports of the huge increase in the fortunes of several prominent Awami League men and their family members over the past five years, the ACC started collecting newspaper clippings and analysing relevant documents, ACC officials said.
ACC Secretary Faizur Rahman Chowdhury on Monday told reporters that the anti-corruption watchdog would form a committee to investigate dozens of candidates and their relatives, who are suspected of accumulating riches illegally.
The commission will initiate the probe by investigating former health minister AFM Ruhal Haq, former state minister for housing and public works Abdul Mannan Khan, former state minister for water resources Mahbubur Rahman, and lawmakers Abdur Rahman Badi of Cox’s Bazar 4, Aslamul Haque of Dhaka 14, Enamul Haque of Rajshahi 4 and Abdul Jabbar of Satkhira 2.
The ACC has designated six deputy directors and an assistant director to conduct the inquiry, commissioner M Shahabuddin Chuppu told reporters yesterday.
The officers are deputy directors Sheikh Faiyaz Alam, Mirza Zahidul Alam, M Nasir Uddin, Khairul Huda, Syed Tahsinul Haque and Ahasan Ali, and assistant director Masudur Rahman.
Ruhal Haque, had Tk88 lakh in his bank account in 2008, but the amount jumped to Tk2.63 crore in 2013. His wife Ila Haque’s bank balance showed Tk7.53crore, up from Tk4.64 lakh five years back, according to the affidavit they handed to the EC.
The value of the former minister’s movable property grew four times from Tk4 crore to Tk16 crore, while his wife’s rose to Tk8.39 crore from Tk95 lakh.
Mannan Khan’s assets grew 110 times to Tk11crore, from Tk10 lakh in 2008.
Mahbubur Rahman now owns Tk5.25 crore in immovable property, which was worth Tk36.33 lakh in 2008. Just five years ago, his annual income was Tk2.15 lakh. He now earns Tk1.50 crore.
Abdur Rahman’s earnings rose astronomically, increasing by more than 500 times over the past five years. His income was only Tk3.01lakh in 2008, but was Tk15.46 crore in 2013.
Aslamul Haque’s six acres of land turned into 145 acres over five years.
Enamul Haque’s annual income was Tk20 lakh from his salary and allowances, now makes nearly Tk50 lakh from agriculture, rented properties and other businesses. His wife owns Tk8.34 crore in movable property, up from Tk 2.89 crore in 2008.
Abdul Jabbar’s wealth information was not immediately available.
