ACC files graft case against ex-MP Nadvi
Staff Reporter :
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a corruption case against former MP and ex-chairman of the International Islamic University Chittagong (IIUC) Board of Trustees Professor Dr Abu Reza Muhammad Nezamuddin Nadvi, his wife Rizia Sultana, and 14 others over the alleged embezzlement of Tk12.79 crore from the university’s commercial property, IIUC Tower.
Confirming the matter, ACC Deputy Director Subel Ahmed said that the case was filed on Thursday (30 October) by Deputy Assistant Director Kamal Chakraborty at the ACC’s Chattogram office.
According to the case statement, between 6 March 2021 and 31 July 2024, the accused, acting in collusion, misappropriated Tk12.79 crore from the IIUC Trust fund — a non-profit, charitable organisation established to support scholarships, assist underprivileged students, and fund Islamic research and social welfare initiatives.
Instead of using the funds for these purposes, the accused diverted the money for personal benefit, in clear violation of trust laws and financial regulations, the ACC said.
The main accused are: Dr Abu Reza Muhammad Nezamuddin Nadvi, former MP and ex-chairman of IIUC Board of Trustees,Professor Dr Anwarul Azim Arif, former vice-chancellor of IIUC ,Professor Dr Kazi Din Muhammad, former vice-chairman of the board ,Professor Dr Mohammad Saleh Zahur,Dr Engr Rashid Ahmed Chowdhury,Rizia Sultana, wife of Nadvi and member of the board,Mohammad Khaled Mahmud, among others.
Additional accused include several former IIUC officials and academics: Professor Dr Md Fosiul Alam, Professor Md Abdur Rahim, Dr Md Shamsuzzaman, Mohammad Badiul Alam, Professor Dr Mohammad Humayun Kabir, Muhammad Shafiur Rahman, Professor Dr Mahi Uddin, Professor Afzal Ahmed, and Dr Mozzaffar Hossain Nadvi.
ACC officials said that others might also be added to the case if evidence of involvement surfaces during investigation.
The ACC investigation revealed that IIUC Trust had purchased a plot in Chattogram’s Agrabad Commercial Area in 2005 and, with assistance from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), built a 15-storey commercial complex named IIUC Tower.
The building began operations in October 2011 and generates an average income of Tk90 lakh per month.
However, instead of using this income for student welfare and university development, the accused allegedly distributed the funds among themselves as honorariums, allowances, bonuses, and festival bonuses, in violation of trust guidelines.
The report detailed that: Nadvi personally received Tk10,09,333 per month as honorarium, plus Tk50,000 for fuel and Tk7,000 for mobile bills. He also took Tk6,22,223 as festival bonuses twice a year.
Vice Chairman Dr Kazi Din Muhammad collected Tk6,30,667 per month, with fuel and mobile allowances, and Tk4,17,777 for each of two festival bonuses.
Nadvi’s wife, Rizia Sultana, received Tk2,70,667 per month as honorarium, Tk3,000 for mobile bills, and Tk2,22,223 for each of two festival bonuses.
The ACC also found that several officials, including the registrar, treasurer, and directors, were given extra payments ranging from Tk20,000 to Tk85,000 per month for “assisting Nadvi’s irregularities.”
In one instance, Tk30 lakh was withdrawn from the Tower’s fund to cover Rizia Sultana’s medical expenses in Dubai, violating both trust regulations and the Private University Act, 2010.
Furthermore, during the July 2022 to December 2023 period, the university’s financial report did not record any income from the IIUC Tower.
Investigators also discovered that about USD 400,000 (equivalent to Tk4 crore) was transferred to Saudi Arabia through debit vouchers without the Chancellor’s prior approval — a violation of Section 44(6) of the Private University Act, 2010.
Bank statements from the Islami Bank account of IIUC Tower confirmed these unauthorised foreign transfers.
Additionally, the Tower’s monthly income was kept in separate accounts instead of being deposited into the university’s main fund, allowing at least Tk32 crore to be siphoned off over three years.
The ACC said it has gathered sufficient documentary evidence to substantiate the allegations and will now proceed according to the law.
“The Trust’s earnings were meant for education and social welfare. Instead, the accused converted it into a personal income stream. Their actions are a serious breach of fiduciary responsibility,” said an ACC official.
The Islamic Development Bank, which financed the tower, had also stipulated that all proceeds from the property be used exclusively for the university’s development and student welfare — a condition the accused violated.
The case marks one of the largest corruption scandals in the private education sector in recent years, exposing systemic misuse of trust funds at a leading Islamic university.