ACC files case on ex-MP Mahfuzur
Staff Reporter :
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against former lawmaker Mahfuzur Rahman over allegations of accumulating assets worth Tk9.88 crore beyond his known sources of income.
Assistant Director Musabbir Ahmed lodged the case on Wednesday with the ACC’s Integrated District Office, Chattogram-2. The development was confirmed by ACC Deputy Director Shobel Ahmed.
Mahfuzur, 56, served as a member of parliament from Chattogram-3 in the 10th, 11th and 12th national elections and is currently the chairman of Rupali Life Insurance Company Limited.
According to the ACC, the commission decided on 17 October 2024 to investigate allegations of irregularities, abuse of power and misappropriation of funds linked to public projects.
Following this, the complaint was taken up for inquiry and a three-member investigation team was formed, led by Deputy Director Md Riaz Uddin and supported by two assistant directors.
The inquiry examined Mahfuzur’s income tax returns covering the 2002–03 to 2024–25 assessment years.
Investigators calculated that he earned Tk10.66 crore from verifiable sources, including parliamentary honorariums and allowances, house rent, share dividends, bank and other loans, vehicle sales and other declared income.
However, although Mahfuzur reported more than Tk9.32 crore in business and fisheries income, the ACC said he failed to produce supporting documents during the inquiry.
Consequently, those earnings were not accepted as legitimate income at the preliminary stage.
The commission also reviewed his claim of receiving Tk3.75 crore as loans or advances from his wife between the 2011–12 and 2016–17 tax years.
Investigators said no credible documentation was found, and preliminary findings suggested his wife lacked a lawful source of income to provide such funds. The amount was therefore excluded from lawful income calculations.
ACC records show that during the same period, Mahfuzur’s family and other expenditures totalled Tk9.91 crore, leaving net savings of Tk75.37 lakh.
The inquiry further found that he acquired assets worth Tk10.63 crore, including Tk2.23 crore in immovable property and Tk8.39 crore in movable assets.
After adjusting for acceptable savings, the ACC concluded that Tk9.88 crore in assets were disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The case has been filed under Section 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.
The commission said the investigation will continue and warned that further legal action will be taken if involvement of others is uncovered.
Reform council oath
Implementation Order, newly elected members of the 13th National Parliament were required to take oath both as members of parliament and as members of the Constitutional Reform Council.
While lawmakers were sworn in on Tuesday, the BNP declined to take the oath as members of the Reform Council, though they took oath as MPs.
BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said there was “no scope” to take oath as members of the Constitutional Reform Council before amendments to the constitution are enacted.
In the wake of the dispute, Jamaat and its alliance partners initially indicated they would not take either oath, but later proceeded to take both.
‘Clean Dhaka Green Dhaka’
Earlier in the day, Shafiqur inaugurated the “Clean Dhaka Green Dhaka” initiative at the Baitun Noor Mosque, adjacent to the main girls’ branch of Manipur High School. He was seen sweeping the road as part of the launch.
“After Fajr each day, our units will carry out cleaning activities,” he said.
“From there, we will expand to other tasks. Let this area become a model. Whether the government provides funds or not is not the main issue; our work will continue.”
Calling for civic responsibility beyond political and religious divides, he added: “Cleaning work should rise above party affiliation and religion. If I am in Dhaka, I will sweep the streets every day.”
The Jamaat chief sought cooperation from all quarters to advance the initiative.