The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday filed a case against eight people over allegations of unethical, discriminatory and illegal allocation of luxury duplex flats of two former Commissioners of the Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) under the “Grihayan Dhanmondi (Phase-1)” project of the National Housing Authority (NHA).
ACC Deputy Director and Public Relations Officer Akhtarul Islam briefed the reporters in the headquarters of the Commission.
Case statement explained that the flats—formed by combining D-12 and D-13, and C-12 and C-13—have areas of approximately 4,105.05 square feet and 4,308.68 square feet respectively. These duplex flats were allegedly approved and allocated in favour of Md Jahurul Haque, former retired judge and former commissioner of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and the ACC, and Dr Md Mozammel Haque Khan, former senior secretary and former ACC commissioner.
ACC files cases against former Bhandaria Upazila chairman, his wife
ACC said that through discriminatory and unlawful decisions taken at the 222nd and 225th board meetings of the National Housing Authority, approvals were granted for the construction and allocation of two large duplex flats in the project located at House No-711 (new 63), Road No-13 (new 6/3), Dhanmondi Residential Area.
The accused include Delwar Haidar, Chairman of the National Housing Authority; Shahjahan Ali, Member (Administration and Finance); Dr Md Moinul Haque Ansari, Member (Land and Estate Management); Bijoy Kumar Mondal, Member (Planning, Design and Special Projects); and Kazi Wasif Ahmad, Project Official (Engineering and Coordination), all of the National Housing Authority.
Former Registrar General (Senior District Judge) Syed Aminul Islam has also been named in the case for allegedly submitting false affidavits and being involved in the abuse of power.
The ACC case said that the accused, while holding important public positions, committed criminal breach of trust, fraud and misconduct by misusing state resources and approving architectural designs in a discriminatory and unlawful manner.
The case has been filed under Sections 409, 420 and 109 of the Penal Code, 1860, read with Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.
According to the case statement, while serving as public servants, several senior officials allegedly abused their power and acted in collusion to approve and allocate two duplex flats—each nearly double the size of standard flats—in violation of rules and regulations.
10 former senior officials under scanner
ACC sought wealth statements from 10 individuals linked to allegations of irregularities in the “Grihayan Dhanmondi (Phase-1)” housing project, suspecting that they may possess undisclosed assets beyond known sources of income.
According to ACC officials, there is a possibility that the accused individuals own or control additional properties. As it is not possible to verify the accurate amount and sources of their assets without official disclosures, the Commission has decided to invoke Section 26(1) of the ACC Act, 2004, directing the concerned individuals to submit detailed statements of their assets.
The individuals who will be asked to submit wealth statements include Md Jahurul Haque, former retired judge and former commissioner of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission and the ACC.
Also on the list is Eunusur Rahman, former senior secretary of the Financial Institutions Division under the Ministry of Finance, currently serving as chairman of the board of directors of Jamuna Oil Company Limited.
Former senior secretary and former ACC commissioner Dr Md Mozammel Haque Khan has also been included, along with MA Kader Sarker, former secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives.
The ACC will further seek asset details from Dr M Aslam Alam, former rector of BPATC, senior secretary to the government and current chairman of the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA), and Aktari Mamtaz, former secretary of the Bangladesh Public Service Commission.
Other individuals named are Serajul Huq Khan, former secretary of the Health Services Division under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare; Syed Aminul Islam, former Registrar General (Senior District Judge) and current member of the Judicial Reform Commission; and Anisur Rahman, former senior secretary of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division and former secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, who also served as an election commissioner during the 13th Election Commission led by Habibul Awal.
The list also includes SM Golam Faruk, former senior secretary of the Local Government Division, former member of the Public Service Commission, former member of the Bangladesh Planning Commission, and former senior secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives.
The ACC said the move is aimed at ensuring transparency and verifying whether the individuals acquired assets beyond their known and lawful sources of income.