The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed six cases against former government ministers and their families, accusing them of accumulating illegal wealth totaling around Tk 155 crore. The cases were filed on Thursday at the Dhaka integrated district office.
The individuals named in the cases include former Health Minister Zahid Maleque and his son Rahat Maleque, former state minister for posts, telecommunications, and information technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak and his wife Arifa Jasmine, and former state minister for textiles and Jute Mirza Azam, along with his wife and daughter.
According to Akhtar Hossain, Director General of the ACC, Zahid Maleque and his son Rahat are accused of acquiring non-income assets worth Tk 61.56 crore and Tk 11.84 crore, respectively. Zunaid Palak and his wife are accused of amassing illegal wealth valued at approximately Tk 19 crore. Additionally, two cases have been filed against Mirza Azam and his family for allegedly accumulating Tk 72 crore in illegal assets.
The ACC disclosed these cases during a press briefing at its headquarters in Segunbagicha, Dhaka.
According to the ACC, Zahid Maleque deposited 143.1 crore taka and withdrew 115.85 crore taka through suspicious transactions involving transfers, conversions, and withdrawals across 34 banks. These activities were allegedly carried out in collusion with others through a business venture. Malek is also accused of laundering 11.49 crore taka, which was transferred to his son, Rahat Maleque. Rahat, using his own name and business accounts, deposited 668.71 crore taka and withdrew 666.57 crore taka, engaging in similar questionable transactions.
Shabana Maleque, wife of Zahid Maleque, has amassed Tk 3 crore 11 lakh 59 thousand 827 in wealth, which is unexplained by her known income. There may be additional assets in her name or those of affiliated individuals. Similarly, Sakiba Maleque, wife of Rahat Maleque, holds Tk 9 crore 28 lakh 94 thousand 545 in wealth beyond her documented earnings, with potential assets registered under her or others’ names. Zahid Maleque’s daughter, Sadia Maleque, possesses assets worth Tk 1 crore 86 lakh 98 thousand 32, sourced from unknown income, while another daughter, Cynthia Akmal, has accumulated Tk 2 crore 37 lakh 25 thousand 296 in unaccounted wealth. It is likely they have additional assets either in their own names or those of trusted associates.
Meanwhile, Zunaid Ahmed Palak has deposited Tk 32 crore 4 lakh 95 thousand 314 in 25 banks between 2009 and this year, while withdrawing Tk 29 crore 84 lakh 72 thousand 95. These unusual transactions are raising suspicions of corruption and bribery. Furthermore, his wife, Arifa Jasmine, is linked to illegal assets totaling Tk 9 crore 58 lakh 93 thousand 433. Arifa deposited Tk 22 crore 34 lakh 71 thousand 979 and withdrew Tk 17 crore 56 lakh 82 thousand 877 from 31 banks, intensifying concerns about illicit financial activities.
Apart from this, Mirza Azam, former State Minister for Textiles and Jute, is accused of abusing his power to amass illegal assets totaling Tk 39 crore 76 lakh 67 thousand 200 through organizations linked to his interests. His daughter, Mirza Aafia Azam Api, is also implicated, with Tk 3 crore 99 lakh 83 thousand 57 unknowingly earned in her name. In total, Tk 725 crore 70 lakh 42 thousand 232 was deposited, and Tk 724 crore 89 lakh 93 thousand 715 was withdrawn across 60 banks, under the names of Mirza Azam, his wife Dewan Aleya, and various affiliated companies, suggesting money laundering through unusual transactions and the conversion of illicit funds. Additionally, Tk 23 crore 77 lakh 71 thousand 995 in illegal assets unrelated to any known income were discovered under Dewan Aleya’s name alone.
Translated by Jisan Al Jubair
Bd-pratidin English
