The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating former Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, also known as Lotus Kamal, over discrepancies in reported assets. The ACC has identified Tk 111 crore in assets on paper, but believes the true value could reach Tk 500 crore.
To support its inquiry, the ACC has searched over a hundred financial institutions, including Bangladesh Bank, public and private banks, and the Securities Exchange Commission. The agency has also requested documentation from various governmental bodies such as the Directorate of Public Works and local city corporations.
Recent findings indicate that Kamal and his family have deposited in various banks and financial institutions. The investigation revealed a significant portfolio of movable and immovable assets, including land in Zoarsahara, Badda, and Uttara in Dhaka, as well as properties in Cumilla.
Initial investigation of the ACC intelligence has been found that former Finance Minister AHM Mustafa has land in Zoarsahara, Badda, Uttara of Dhaka, and Cumilla, deposits in various banks, financial institutions, investment in shares and investment in savings certificates amounting to Tk 20 crore 48 lakh 25 thousand 206.
Apart from this, Kamal has investments in various companies including Lotus Kamal Properties, Orbital Enterprises. Lands, plots and flats owned by his wife Kashmiri Kamal in Cumilla, Dhaka's Gulshan and Badda area. 38 crore 87 lakh 78 thousand 506 taka as investments in shares and savings certificates in various banks and financial institutions in the name of his wife Kashmiri Kamal, 20 crore 91 lakh 10 thousand 972 taka in various companies including Lotus Kamal Properties and Saudi Bangladesh Contracting Co. Ltd. Three vehicles were traced in her name.
Apart from these assets, there is also preliminary information that Kamal has assets of hundreds of crores of taka in the country and abroad.
According to sources, a syndicate led by former Finance Kamal and his family, former MP Nizam Uddin Hazari, Lieut. General (retd) Masududdin Chowdhury and former MP Benazir Ahmed's organization has been accused of embezzling Tk 20,000 crore for extra fees than the amount fixed by the government in the name of sending workers to Malaysia.
The gang allegedly extorted huge sums of money from the workers with false promises of jobs, which allegedly involved high-ranking officials of the governments of Bangladesh and Malaysia. In just one and a half years, they have looted that money by sending 450,000 people through their own recruiting agency.
In total, at that time, the trade was 24 thousand crore taka, but about 20 thousand crore taka were taken as additional fees. Despite sending so many workers, many were forced to return because they did not get permission to work.
A three-member investigation team is working under the leadership of ACC Deputy Director Nurul Huda to investigate various allegations of corruption including such irregularities.
(Translated by Tanvir Raihan)
