ACC prosecutes former MPs Shekhar, Abul Kalam Azad

They have been charged with transactions totalling Tk 250 million across accounts

The Anti-Corruption Commission, or ACC, has prosecuted former premier Sheikh Hasina's personal assistant and former MP from Magura-1 constituency Saifuzzaman Shekhar and his wife Sima Rahman on charges of acquiring illegal assets.

ACC Director General (Prevention) Akhter Hossain has also pressed charges against former MP from Gaibandha-4 constituency Abul Kalam Azad on Monday.

In the first case, Shekhar was accused of abusing his power while holding a responsible position in the government to illegally acquire assets worth around Tk 18 million, inconsistent with his known income sources.

He was also charged with making suspicious transactions totalling Tk 110 million through seven personal and business bank accounts in his name.

In the second case, evidence of assets of Tk 11 million, inconsistent with the known source of income, was found against his wife Sima Rahman. Here, Shekhar has been made an accomplice.

The ACC started an investigation against Shekhar on Aug 28.

On Oct 15, the court imposed a travel ban on Shekhar and his wife.

In Azad's case, the statement alleges that the accused, as a public servant representing the Gaibandha-4 constituency in the 10th and 12th parliamentary elections, illegally acquired assets worth Tk 66 million.

This is punishable under Section 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

Additionally, he deposited Tk 20 million and withdrew nearly the same amount through seven personal and business accounts in his name, totalling about Tk 40 million.

The statement alleges that he illegally acquired this money through bribery and corruption during his tenure as a member of parliament.

It also claims that the accused's wife, Ms Ruhul Ara Rahim, possesses assets worth Tk 5.1 million without any declared source.

Approval has been granted to issue an asset statement notice to Ruhul Ara to verify the source of these assets.

FARIDPUR EX-SP CHARGED

The ACC has prosecuted former Faridpur police superintendent Md Shahjahan, now with the Chittagong Range DIG's office, for acquiring illegal assets worth Tk 14 million.

Charges have been pressed against him under Section 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

The ACC began investigating Shahjahan in 2023 over allegations of amassing illegal wealth and summoned him on Oct 23.

Shahjahan last served as the Superintendent of Police in Rangpur, following his role as Deputy Commissioner of Police for the Uttara Division of DMP.

After the previous government was ousted on August 5, he was assigned to the Chittagong Range.