Former MP Benjir, wife charged with possession of wealth beyond means

Benjir has been in hiding since the shift in the political landscape

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has brought charges against former Dhaka-20 MP Benjir Ahmed and his wife Sahina Ahmed in two separate cases over possession of wealth beyond known sources of income.

On Thursday, ACC Director General Md Akhtar Hossain said Deputy Assistant Director Md Zulfiqar filed the two cases.

In the first case, Benjir allegedly acquired assets worth Tk 179.9 million inconsistent with his legal source of income. The ACC unearthed information on transactions worth Tk 84.42 million from 11 bank accounts belonging to him, Akhtar said.

Benjir and his wife have both been accused in the second case that alleges Sahina acquired assets worth Tk 97.47 million illicitly, he said.

According to the anti-graft agency, Sahina colluded with her husband for “dishonest purposes” and came into possession of the wealth.

Benjir has been in hiding since the change in the political landscape following the fall of the Awami League government in the face of the student-led mass uprising in July-August.

In August 2023, the ACC launched an investigation against five people, including Benjir, over allegations of misappropriating about Tk 200 billion under the veil of funds for sending workers to Malaysia.

On Mar 11 this year, the ACC filed a case against 32 people on charges of embezzling Tk 11.28 billion through fraud linked to sending workers to Malaysia. Benjir was also accused in that case.