ACC PROBE: 24 AL MPs, ministers hold foreign citizenship
NN Online:
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has received concrete information regarding dual citizenship (including residency cards or green cards in some cases) held by 24 individuals who have served as ministers, advisers, and members of parliament during various terms of the Awami League (AL) government.
Following the fall of the Awami League government on August 5 due to a popular uprising, the Anti-Corruption Commission is investigating the wealth accumulation and money laundering activities of 180 influential individuals. In the course of this inquiry, the ACC has so far uncovered information indicating that 24 of these individuals hold dual citizenship or possess residency cards.
Among those under investigation, ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s adviser, Salman F Rahman, secretly acquired Cypriot citizenship. Former foreign minister Hassan Mahmud holds a Belgian residence card, while former finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal is a citizen of the United Kingdom. Additionally, former deputy ministers Nasrul Hamid and Junaid Ahmed Palak both possess legal residency permits or green cards for the United States, reports Prothom Alo.
Officials involved in the ACC’s investigation have confirmed the details of these findings.
According to sources involved in the ACC’s investigation, five former ministers and deputy ministers hold citizenship in the United Kingdom. These individuals are AHM Mustafa Kamal, Mohammad Tajul Islam, Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, and Mohammad Mahbub Ali. Among them, Mahbub Ali was arrested on September 15 and has since been sent to prison.
Seven members of Parliament, including four former ministers and deputy ministers, hold US citizenship or green cards, according to the ACC’s investigation. The names that have emerged so far include Abdus Shaheed, Nasrul Hamid, Junaid Ahmed, Mohammad Ali Arafat, Abdus Sobhan Miah (Golap), Mahfuzur Rahman, and Salauddin Mahmud Zahid. Among them, former Agriculture Minister Abdus Shaheed, former ICT State Minister Junaid Ahmed, and former MP Abdus Sobhan have been arrested during law enforcement operations and are currently in prison.
The ACC’s investigation has revealed the names of six individuals who hold Canadian citizenship, including one former minister and five former members of parliament. Among them are Abdur Rahman, Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Alauddin Ahmed Chowdhury (Nasim), Shamim Osman, Shafiqul Islam (Shimul), and Habib Hasan.
According to the ACC, former local government minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain holds Swiss citizenship, while former Railways Minister Zillul Hakim has residency permit (residence card) in Japan. Former MP Tanveer Hasan, also known as Chhoto Monir (Tangail-2 constituency), is a citizen of Germany, and former MP MA Wahid (Mymensingh-11) has acquired citizenship of Papua New Guinea.
The ACC’s investigation has revealed that former ministers and parliamentarians with dual citizenship have been involved in the illegal transfer of large sums of money abroad.
In response to these findings, ACC Director General (Prevention) Akhtar Hossain said the matter is under investigation and that action will be taken against those found to be involved in money laundering.