ACC targets ex-NTMC chief in illegal wealth probe

Staff Reporter :

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation into allegations of illegal wealth accumulation by Ziaul Ahsan, former Director General (DG) of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC).

On Wednesday (18 December), ACC Director General Md Akhter Hossain announced the formation of a three-member investigation team. Led by ACC Deputy Director (Research and Investigation-8) Md Salahuddin, the team also includes Assistant Director Ranjit Kumar Karmakar and Deputy Assistant Director Md Jabed Hossain Sajal.

Ziaul, a former two-star Bangladesh Army officer, was relieved of his military service on 6 August, following the ousting of the Awami League government in a mass uprising. He had served as the head of NTMC since 2022, prior to which he was affiliated with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

Amid concerns for his safety, Ziaul reportedly sought refuge within the army, which later handed him over to police on the night of 15 August. He was subsequently shown arrested in a case linked to the killing of Shahjahan Ali during the quota reform protests on 16 July, filed at New Market Police Station.

In a remand application, police alleged that Ziaul confessed to the procurement of Israeli spyware Pegasus for Bangladesh, a tool developed by the NSO Group to covertly infiltrate mobile devices.

Police further accused Ziaul of involvement in the “Aynaghor” project, a covert detention facility allegedly used for enforced disappearances and the imprisonment of political dissidents.

Ziaul denied the accusations in court, stating, “I am not involved in any murder or enforced disappearance. Ask anyone who has been released from the Aynaghor if I detained them there.”
He has also been implicated in the 2013 shooting incident at Shapla Chattar in Dhaka.

Ziaul Ahsan began his military career as an infantry officer in 1991. In 2009, shortly after the Awami League came to power, he was appointed co-commander of RAB-2 while still a major. Over the years, he rose swiftly through the ranks, reportedly due to his favour with the government of the time, despite facing numerous allegations of misconduct.

As NTMC’s inaugural director general, his tenure drew criticism for alleged abuses of power, including the unauthorised recording of private conversations involving senior government and opposition leaders as well as law enforcement officials.