ACC to prosecute former minister Obaidul Muktadir over ‘illegal assets, money laundering’

The ACC has also served a notice to his wife Fahima Khatun for asset disclosure

The Anti-Corruption Commission is set to file a case against former minister RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury on charges of acquiring illegal assets and money laundering.

Alongside the case against Muktadir, his wife Fahima Khatun, the former head of the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, has been served a notice to submit her asset declaration.

ACC Director General Md Akhtar Hossain disclosed the matter on Tuesday.

According to the anti-graft investigation, Muktadir, former minister of public works during the Awami League regime, allegedly acquired assets worth Tk 22.19 million that are inconsistent with his known sources of income.

The ACC has also uncovered “suspicious” transactions totalling Tk 248.97 million across eight accounts in six different banks under Muktdir’s name.

The commission also found that Fahima allegedly acquired assets worth Tk 5.02 million that were also inconsistent with her known sources of income.

As a result, under Section 26(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, she has been instructed to submit her assets declaration.

Earlier, on May 15, the court imposed a travel ban on Muktadir, a former MP for the Brahmanbaria-3 seat, and Fahima.

Muktadir was arrested by police on Sept 31, at Shewarapara after going into hiding since Aug 5 last year. His arrest sparked protests in Brahmanbaria, with local BNP leaders, madrasa teachers, and citizens demanding exemplary punishment.