The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation into corruption allegations against 53 former and current officials, including former Bangladesh Bank governors Abdur Rouf Talukder and Atiur Rahman. The officials face accusations of illegal asset acquisition, money laundering, and embezzlement. ACC officials said they have searched the safe deposit lockers of 28 of them so far.
The ACC is investigating Atiur Rahman’s role in the 2016 theft of $101 million from Bangladesh Bank reserves.
The ACC has launched an investigation into corruption, embezzlement, and money laundering allegations against Abdur Rouf Talukder. It is also probing irregularities in Bangladesh Bank and the concealment of default loan data at Social Islami Bank, involving Tk 7,853 crore.
The ACC is investigating former Deputy Governor Khurshid Alam for allegedly embezzling Tk 54 lakh at the Rangpur regional office.
It is also investigating ex-Deputy Governor Kazi Sayedur Rahman for embezzling Tk 700 crore.
Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Nurun Nahar is under investigation for corruption, abuse of power, recruitment irregularities, money laundering, and illegal asset accumulation. A separate inquiry has also begun into Nurun Nahar and Deputy Governor Habibur Rahman over embezzlement charges.
The ACC is investigating former Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Sitangshu Kumar Sur Chowdhury for illegal wealth acquisition and money laundering. During the investigation, an ACC team recovered Tk 4.45 crore in savings certificates and insurance documents worth Tk 16.25 lakh in cash from his Dhaka residence. On January 26, the ACC also seized 1 kg of gold, USD 169,300, 55,000 Euros, and fixed deposit receipts of Tk 70 lakh from his safe deposit locker at Bangladesh Bank.
Amiruzzaman Mia, Assistant Director at Bangladesh Bank Training Academy, is under investigation by the ACC for allegedly acquiring illegal assets, including a luxury home and three plots in Dhaka.
The ACC is also conducting inquiries into graft allegations against former Bangladesh Bank adviser Abu Farah Md Nasser, former Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit chief Masud Biswas, former executive director SM Moniruzzaman, former executive director Shah Alam, general manager Zakir Hossain, deputy general manager Imam Sayeed, joint directors Md Sarwar Hossain, Sunirban Barua, Jubair Hossain, Anik Talukder, Rubel Chowdhury and Lelin Azad Palash, additional directors Md Abdur Rouf, Md Wadud and Md Manjur Hossain Khan, former deputy director Mofazzal Hossain, former assistant director (cash) Anwar Hossain and former DGM Tarun Kanti Ghosh.
Sources indicate that after seizing valuables from SK Sur's safe deposit locker at Bangladesh Bank, the ACC recently conducted another raid at the central bank. While no lockers were found in the names of 25 other officials, the ACC discovered safe deposit lockers registered under 28 central bank officials.
The 28 officials are executive directors Md Shahidul Islam, Ahmed Jamal, Ashish Kumar Dasgupta, Mohammad Masum Kamal Bhuiyan, Subhankar Saha and Ashish Kumar Dasgupta, directors Md Rajib Ali, Lutfe Ara Begum, Pradeep Ranjan Debnath, Wahida Nasrin, Moni Shankar Kundu, Ariat Hossain Khan and Mizanur Rahman Akand, general managers Md Sazzat Hossain Khan, Md Kausar Matin and Md Akkas Uddin, deputy general managers Mahmud Salauddin Naser, Md Enamul Karim Khan, Ishtekamal Hossain, Mustafa Azad Kamal, Dilip Kumar Dutta, AKM Kamruzzaman, Golam Mustafa and Shah Md Mainuddin, additional directors Nasima Khatun and Alauddin Al Azad, BFIU additional director Kazi Monir Uddin, and deputy manager Kalyani Saha.
On February 2, the ACC sent a letter to the Governor of Bangladesh Bank urging measures to prevent unauthorized access to lockers. Since then, the central bank's Motijheel headquarters has imposed a ban on locker access. ACC Deputy Director (Public Relations) Md Akhtarul Islam told Bangladesh Pratidin that the ACC has filed separate cases against former Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Seetangshu Kumar Sur Chowdhury, his family members, and former BFIU Chief Masud Biswas. Several former and current central bank officials are under investigation for alleged corruption.
ACC Files Case Against Atiur and Barakat: The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against 23 individuals, including former Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Atiur Rahman and former Janata Bank Chairman and economist Dr. Abul Barakat, for embezzling Tk 297 crore. They are accused of misappropriating the loan amount of Tk 297 crore disbursed to AnonTex Group.
Nazmul Hussain, the agency's deputy director, filed the case at the ACC's Dhaka integrated district office yesterday. Later, ACC Director General Md Akhtar Hossain shared details in a press briefing at the agency's head office in Segunbagicha, Dhaka.
The court has ordered the seizure of two flats, one plot of land, and the freezing of 39 bank accounts linked to former Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Sitangshu Kumar Sur (SK Sur), his wife Suparna Sur Chowdhury, and daughter Nandita Sur Chowdhury. The 39 accounts hold a total of Tk 3.98 crore. The order was issued by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib, following an application from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). ACC Deputy Director Md Nazmul Hussain had requested the seizure of their immovable assets and the freezing of their bank accounts.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
