ACC and CIC probe exposes Matiur Rahman’s unprotected wealth

Matiur Rahman, a former member of the Nationwide Board of Income (NBR), gained consideration following the notorious “goat incident.” His first spouse, Laila Kaniz Fortunate, previously a university trainer, now serves because the Raipura Upazila Parishad Chairman in Narsingdi. His second spouse, Shammi Akhtar Shibly, manages family affairs. Their youngsters embody Farzana Rahman Ipsita, at present residing in Canada after graduating from a non-public college in Dhaka, and Ahmed Taufiqur Rahman Arnab, who returned from learning within the UK and not too long ago married right into a household in Chittagong’s industrial sector. Moreover, Madhavi, Shammi Akhtar’s daughter, research at Bardem Medical School, whereas Mushfequr Rahman Ifat, famously linked to the goat incident, is a pupil at Notre Dame School. Matiur’s household consists of youthful son Irfan, aged seven. His brothers, Abdul Hakim and Qayyum Hawladar, had nominal incomes, with most household expenditures sourced from Matiur’s earnings, whereas one other brother, Nurul Huda, confronted unemployment.

Matiur Rahman’s seemingly atypical household has emerged as homeowners of immense wealth, together with luxurious properties, vehicles, flats, parks, resorts, and industrial investments. Allegations recommend Matiur orchestrated a scheme to counterpoint his members of the family on paper, ostensibly to obscure his illicit earnings, whereas conserving a fraction underneath his personal identify to evade authorized scrutiny.

Regardless of declaring belongings value BDT 200 million in his earnings tax filings, primarily BDT 130 million in money, discrepancies abound between these figures and precise holdings. The Anti-Corruption Fee (ACC) beforehand tried, unsuccessfully on 4 events, to uncover Matiur’s alleged unlawful belongings, citing unexplained closures of investigations. Presently, the ACC, in collaboration with the Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) of the NBR, is intensifying efforts to probe into Matiur’s household belongings, as reported throughout a number of sources.

Throughout the preliminary levels of the goat incident, Matiur Rahman gave an interview on personal tv, denying paternity of Ifat to change public notion. He claimed substantial wealth accumulation by inventory market positive aspects. Nonetheless, his newest earnings tax submitting solely reviews BDT 8.20 million in capital market investments and BDT 120.97 million in money. Extra belongings embody a BDT 5.00 million mortgage to FDR, BDT 30 million in non-agricultural property, and possession of a fish farm. Regardless of these holdings, earnings tax information reportedly disclose no additional belongings, contrasting sharply with the perceived wealth of his members of the family.

A preliminary investigation into Matiur Rahman’s wealth has uncovered discrepancies concerning possession of luxurious automobiles. Household sources affirm that Matiur, alongside together with his two wives and youngsters from each marriages, possesses no less than a dozen luxurious vehicles, some valued between BDT 30 to 40 million. Surprisingly, Matiur, his wives, and youngsters haven’t declared any automobile possession of their earnings tax filings. These vehicles are registered underneath corporations owned by Matiur’s spouse, brother, and daughter, slightly than of their particular person names. Notably, well-liked fashions just like the Prado and Premio utilized by Rifat, which gained consideration on social media, are registered underneath entities resembling SK Trim Industries Restricted and a financial institution, as per Bangladesh Street Transport Authority (BRTA) information. Regardless of holding BDT 130 million in money, Matiur reportedly financed vehicles for his spouse and son utilizing financial institution loans, with one other automobile registered underneath a Mohakhali automobile showroom’s identify.

It’s confirmed that Matiur Rahman has constructed a contemporary residence on 5 khata of land in D block, Street No. 8, Bashundhara Residential Space, the place he resides together with his first spouse. The opposite items throughout the property are rented out, all financed with Matiur’s funds, but registered underneath his daughter Farzana Rahman Ipsita’s identify. Moreover, he has invested in companies within the Farmgate space underneath the identify “Bekar Bakhat Bhai,” acquired a number of flats throughout Dhanmondi, Lalmatia, and Kakrail in his youthful spouse’s identify, and engaged in important capital market placements. Notably, his spouse Shammi Akhtar has no reported earnings.

Matiur has established SK Thread, a yarn manufacturing facility in Kamrangirchar, Outdated Dhaka, and SK Trim Trade Restricted, a garment gear manufacturing manufacturing unit in Tongi, managed by his brother Qayyum Howlader. Shut associates recommend Matiur’s personal earnings alone couldn’t have funded these ventures, pointing to substantial monetary assist from his elder brother Qayyum. Allegedly, investments in ventures like Marvel Park, public capturing spots, resorts, and farms have been made within the names of his spouse and youngsters, who reportedly lack impartial earnings sources, allegedly utilizing funds acquired by illicit means by Matiur.

Issues have been raised that Matiur Rahman, accustomed to authorized loopholes as a former senior NBR officer, has averted accumulating wealth in his personal identify to evade authorized scrutiny. Nonetheless, the ACC Act gives avenues to deal with this. Extracting Matiur’s identified non-monetary belongings requires organizational integrity, transcending lobbying and exterior pressures.

An ACC official affirmed their intention to subject asset declaration notices to Matiur, his wives, youngsters, and siblings, promising transparency in clarifying their monetary accounts. They emphasised the essential must match declared belongings with official sources of earnings to uncover potential cash laundering schemes linked to Matiur’s family-operated organizations. Given the absence of different earnings sources throughout the household, there is a chance to show that these enterprise investments are derived from questionable origins.

Heart for Coverage Dialogue (CPD) senior researcher Taufiqul Islam Khan highlighted the importance of this case, noting its potential to set a precedent for transparency and accountability. He careworn the significance of a swift and thorough investigation to uphold public belief and tackle the complexities surrounding Matiur’s alleged monetary misconduct.

Following widespread public criticism triggered by the “goat incident” exposing Matiur Rahman’s substantial wealth, the ACC initiated asset searches. Letters requesting info have been dispatched to governmental our bodies like BFIU and NBR. Regardless of earlier failed makes an attempt by ACC groups to search out proof towards him, a joint effort with NBR’s Central Intelligence Cell (CIC) is now underway to confirm Matiur’s household belongings. On June 23, in response to the controversy, Matiur was faraway from his NBR membership and reassigned to the Inner Sources Division of the Ministry of Finance. He was additionally ousted from his directorial place at Sonali Financial institution. Presently in hiding, Matiur has but to return to work post-Eid, with talks of initiating dismissal proceedings if he fails to renew inside 60 days.

Coincidentally, forward of Eid-ul-Azha, a younger resident of Dhanmondi bought a goat from Sadiq Agro in Mohammadpur for BDT 1.5 million. When photographs and movies of the transaction went viral on Fb, questions arose in regards to the supply of the younger man’s funds. It later emerged that NBR member Matiur Rahman was the younger man’s father. Initially denying paternity, the son’s declare was refuted with proof, sparking widespread criticism. This incident introduced consideration to the numerous wealth of Matiur’s household, prompting them to retreat from public view. After 14 days, Matiur’s first spouse, Laila Kaniz Fortunate, made her first public look, confidently asserting at an Upazila Parishad assembly that they might face no penalties.

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