ACC prosecutes NBR member Belal on charges of ‘illicit wealth’

He “concealed information” of around Tk 50 million, ACC says

The Anti-Corruption Commission has filed a case against Mohammad Belal Hossain Chowdhury, a member of the National Board of Revenue, on charges of acquiring assets “beyond known means of income” of around Tk 50 million and "concealing the information".

ACC Director General Akhter Hossain said the national graft agency's Deputy Director Saiduzzaman lodged the case on Tuesday at the District Office Dhaka-1.

According to case documents, Belal “concealed information” about assets valued at Tk 40.72 million.

While serving as a government official, he allegedly acquired these assets through corruption, and provided “false and misleading information".

The documents added that Belal accumulated a total of Tk 49.75 million in movable and immovable assets.

He acquired these assets at different times from 2004 to 2022.

The ACC investigation report says as the initial allegations were proven, the commission issued a notice to Belal on Jun 1, 2022, to submit an asset statement.

On Jul 26, 2022, he submitted a statement to the ACC, where he provided information about assets worth Tk 88.31 million.

However, the ACC’s verification revealed his total assets were worth Tk 134.33 million.

The investigation report also said Belal purchased land, plots, flats, and shares in Dhaka, Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, and Noakhali districts with “illicit” wealth.