ACC uncovers wealth records in former IGP Shahidul’s hidden sacks

The Anti-Corruption Commission, or ACC, has seized two sacks containing confidential documents on liquid and immovable assets, fixed deposit receipts, or FDRs, and savings account records belonging to former inspector general of police AKM Shahidul Hoque.

These documents were recovered from a relative's residence in Dhaka on Tuesday night.

ACC Director General Akhtar Hossain said the operation was led by Assistant Director Rakibul Hayat, along with a five-member team.

A total of 48 items of 38 types were in the bags, including documents on valuable property, confidential contracts, agreements, powers of attorney, and bonds.

An ACC official involved in the operation told bdnews24.com that the raid was conducted at a house on Road No 4, Block C, Section 12 in Mirpur.

The documents were found at the residence of a relative related to Shahidul's younger sister.

Among the seized items were FDRs under the name of the Mazid Jarina Foundation, established by Shahidul.

The foundation had significant deposits in different banks, including Farmers Bank, Mercantile Bank, and First Security Islami Bank.

Notably, FDRs totalling approximately Tk 127.5 million were found across multiple accounts: Tk 55 million in three branches of First Security Islami Bank, Tk 47 million in eight accounts at Farmers Bank, and Tk 25 million in four accounts at Mercantile Bank.

Numerous savings accounts and FDRs associated with the foundation were also discovered.

The seized property deeds encompass seven from Gulshan Sub-Registry Office, five from Dhaka Sadar, two each from Uttara, Keraniganj, and Mohammadpur, and 10 from Rupganj and Fatullah in Narayanganj, totalling 28 deeds.

A personal 79-page diary belonging to the former IGP was also found, containing notes on substantial assets.

Moreover, evidence of investments in different institutions by Shahidul was uncovered.

ACC DG Akhtar said that to conceal these documents, Shahidul sent them to one relative's house, who then forwarded them to another's residence.

According to him, the documents contain information about “millions in illegal wealth”.

The ACC will scrutinise these records and take appropriate action, he said.

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit, or BFIU, had previously informed the ACC of receiving information about unusual transactions amounting to Tk 5.6 billion from 72 bank accounts held by Shahidul, his wife Shamsunnahar Rahman and their three children.

The investigation also revealed huge transactions from multiple bank accounts belonging to the Mazid Jarina Foundation controlled by Shahidul’s family.

As of Sept 9, 2024, a total of Tk 5.6 billion had been deposited in those 72 bank accounts and Tk 5.5 billion had been withdrawn. Currently, only Tk 102 million remains in these accounts.

The BFIU sent the report to the ACC to take further action.

Shahidul served as the IGP from Dec 31, 2014 to Jan 31, 2018.

He became the commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police in 2009, soon after the Awami League government came to power.

After the fall of the government, Shahidul was arrested from Sector 16 in Dhaka’s Uttara on Sept 3.

He was then shown arrested in murder cases at various police stations.

After his arrest, the former police chief was also remanded several times.