ACC attaches assets of 15000C, freezes 2,300 accounts in 10 months

The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) through 128 court orders has attached illegal assets and properties worth about Tk15,000 crores and ordered to freeze some 2,300 bank accounts during the last 10 months.

The anti-graft body has also attached illegal assets and properties worth Tk1,000 crore outside the country following court orders during the same period, the officials said.

The ACC has initiated over 500 inquiries, submitted more than 400 charge sheets, lodged 350 First Information Reports (FIRs) and submitted over 50 final reports during the same period, the officials added.

The commission attached 470 acres of land, 40 houses, 70 flats, 31 plots, nine shops, seized 28 cars, three ships, one truck, 52 business establishments, three companies and freezed 2346 bank accounts at that time.

The current balance of those accounts operating in the country is Tk2,706.32 crore, the official added.

The ACC from August last year to March this year, has seized movable assets worth about 824.234 crore and immovable assets worth about Tk11,474.84 crores in the country. In abroad, they seized movable properties worth about Tk120.75 crore and immovable assets worth about Tk45.18 crore.

A senior official of the asset management division of the commission said that during the month of January this year, the ACC has lodged 70 FIRs against 238 people, submitted 28 charge sheets against 71 people and 27 people were dropped from the cases as they were found innocent during the investigation.

In February, the anti-graft body lodged 54 FIRs against 158 people while pressed 52 charge sheets against 155 people, started investigation into 95 new allegations and asked 57 people to submit their wealth statements.

The key accused in the corruption cases are mostly dominated by the family members and relatives of the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her ministers, parliament members and senior leaders of her party Bangladesh Awami League.

The six members of Sheikh Hasina’s family also grabbed 2 acres of land in Pubachal New Town in the name of allotment through corruption.

The other accused persons are– Sheikh Rehana, Hasina’s son and daughter Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Saima Wazed Putul, Sheikh Rehana’s daughter and son Tulip Siddiq and Radwan Mujib Siddiq.

When contacted, senior lawyer of the Supreme Court Dr Kazi Aktar Hamid said the media that power is a sacred duty of the state and corruption by using that power is not at all acceptable.

Dr Hamid said that those allegations and information regarding corruption have already surfaced against the former prime minister, her relatives and cabinet colleagues are very alarming and should be investigated properly with accountability and transparently.

He added that the offenders should be faced due process of law for ensuring rule of law and justice in the country.