ACC presses charges against Tarique, wife

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday pressed charges against detained BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman, his wife Dr Zobaida Rahman and mother-in-law Iqbalmand Banu for amassing wealth illegally and concealing wealth information.
ACC Assistant Director Taufiqul Islam, also investigation officer (IO), submitted the charge sheet to the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate showing 57 people as prosecution witnesses.
The IO prayed for issuance of arrest warrants against Zobaida and Iqbalmand Banu and an order to attach their property, as they has not obtained bail.
He mentioned in the charge sheet that Tarique had concealed wealth worth about Tk 2.17 crore in his statement and also amassed about Tk 2.75 crore beyond his known source of income.
His wife and mother-in-law were accused of assisting him for committing the offences.
On September 26 last year, Deputy Director Jahirul Huda filed the case with Kafrul Police Station against Tarique, Dr Zubaida and Iqbalmand Banu for concealing wealth information.
Tarique, elder son of detained former premier Khaleda Zia, was charged with earning wealth over Tk 4.82 crore illegally and concealing information of property worth over Tk 4.23 crore in his wealth statement submitted to the ACC earlier.
Zubaida and her mother were accused of abetting Tarique in establishing that the money was earned through legal income.
The case against Tarique, his wife and mother-in-law was filed under sections 26 (2) and 27 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, section 109 of the Penal Code and section 15 (Gha) (5) of Emergency Power Rules, 2007.
Tarique submitted his wealth statement to the anti-graft body on June 10 last year through jail authorities, claiming to have assets worth Tk 1.37 crore in the names of himself, his wife and his daughter.
Jahirul Huda submitted a report to ACC on July 25 after an investigation into Tarique's wealth account.
During the investigation it was found that Tarique became owner of Bangla newspaper Dainik Dinkal by taking it over as publisher and printer on August 12, 1998 from Prof Mazidul Islam through an agreement.
Jahirul mentioned in the case that according to vouchers, cashbooks, ledgers and audit reports, by becoming the daily's owner Tarique owned over Tk 4.15 crore against an investment of over Tk 1.74 crore.
Tarique also concealed information about 250 shares of Rahman Group worth Tk 2.5 lakh in his wealth statement.
It was also mentioned in the case statement that Tarique, his wife and daughter own land and three Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDR) worth Tk 58.45 lakh. But the wealth did not match Tarique's actual income.
Of the wealth, 2.01 acres of land at Gabtoli in Bogra is in Tarique's name. His wife has two FDRs -- worth Tk 25 lakh and Tk 10 lakh -- with the Banani branch of Prime Bank Ltd. Besides, there is an FDR worth Tk 20 lakh with the Banani branch of Dhaka Bank Ltd in the name of their daughter Zaima.
In the statement, Tarique mentioned that he bought the piece of land at Tk 3.45 lakh in May 2003 with the money he had earned from business. But his total expenditure during 2001-2006 was more than his income, which means he bought the land through dishonest means or unknown source of income.
The case statement says Zubaida claimed that her mother provided the money of the two FDRs. Iqbalmand Banu also said she provided the amount from the money she had got at a time renting out her houses at Mohakhali and Motijheel.
However, their claims proved to be false in primary investigations. One Enayetul Bari Jewel, who has no relation or involvement with Zubaida, deposited the money with the bank for opening the FDRs. The IO believes Tarique provided the money from his undeclared income, the case statement adds.
The case also says Tarique claimed he provided Tk 20 lakh for opening the FDR for his daughter taking loan from Rahman Group, but no evidence was found in favour of the loan.
Earlier on March 7 last year, joint forces arrested Tarique at their Cantonment residence after an extortion case filed against him by a businessman. He has since been in Dhaka Central Jail.
He was later shown arrested in 10 extortion cases and another case in which he was accused of cheating following confessional statements of his close friend and business associate Giausuddin Al Mamun.
After submission of the charge sheet in the first extortion case, Tarique's lawyers submitted a writ petition with the High Court (HC) challenging legality of the case and the HC stayed its proceedings.
On the other hand, police are yet to press charges against him in one of the extortion cases, even though Mamun had given confessional statements involving him in the cases.