ACC sues DNCC ward councillor
He illegally amassed Tk 26.16cr wealth
Ward councillor Tarequzzaman Rajib, accused in land grabbing and extortion cases, had such a passion for badminton that he grabbed 6-katha land in the capital’s Mohammadpur to set up a badminton court on it.
Not only that, Rajib spent about Tk 4 crore to develop the court, revealed an enquiry by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Yesterday, ACC Assistant Director Mamunur Rashid Chowdhury filed a case against the councillor on charges of amassing Tk 26.16 crore wealth beyond his known sources of income.
The ACC also found that Rajib, councillor of ward-33 of Dhaka North City Corporation, has a duplex, a five-storey, a three-storey and three four-storey buildings in the city’s Mohammadia Housing Society area.
He spent about Tk 8.3 crore on these buildings, reads the First Information Report of the case.
According to the FIR, Rajib owns a plot in Katasur of Mohammadpur worth about Tk 60 lakh. He also has moveable properties worth Tk 12.14 crore and eight cars worth around Tk 1.19 crore.
The enquiry officer found that the councillor accumulated the wealth illegally in only nine years.
The Rab had arrested him on October 19, eight days after picking up ward-32 councillor Habibur Rahman Mizan.
Yesterday, ACC Deputy Director Gulshan Anowar Prodhan also filed a case against Mizan for amassing wealth worth Tk 30.16 crore beyond his known sources of income.
Mizan spent Tk 18 crore for constructing three six-storey buildings in the capital’s Lalmatia. Besides, he owns an under-construction building near the Swapnapuri Housing Complex in the city.
“It was learnt that he spent a total of Tk 19 crore to acquire the properties,” reads the FIR of the case.
Besides, Mizan bought four flats in Mohammadpur for Tk 1.89 crore.
The councillor has moveable properties worth Tk 9.26 crore which was also amassed beyond his known sources of income, says the FIR.
Misuse of power and amassing wealth illegally by ward councillors came to the fore after the law enforcers recently launched a drive against illegal casino businesses.
The Rab arrested several leaders of the Awami League’s front organisations for their alleged involvement in the businesses.