ACC cracks down on corrupt NBR officers, freezes belongings

The Anti-Corruption Fee (ACC) continues its decided crackdown on corruption throughout the Nationwide Board of Income (NBR), bringing to mild the illicit actions of a number of high-ranking officers. Following the apprehension of Motiur Rahman and Kazi Abu Mahmud Faisal, each implicated within the notorious goat scandal, the ACC has now unearthed substantial unlawful wealth collected by Mohammad Enamul Haque, the Customs, Excise, and VAT Commissioner of Sylhet district in Bangladesh.

On July 4, the court docket ordered the attachment of Enamul Haque’s in depth immovable properties, a choice prompted by an utility from ACC Deputy Director Farzana Yasmin. The court docket’s ruling, delivered by Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Particular Decide Mohammed Ash-Shams Joglul Hossain, marks a big step within the ACC’s ongoing efforts to sort out corruption on the highest ranges of presidency. The ACC’s investigation revealed that Haque had amassed wealth by bribery and corruption, with the overall estimated at a staggering Tk 90.7697 million.

The ACC’s utility, which led to the court docket order, outlined the in depth unlawful belongings collected by Enamul Haque. The properties, unfold throughout varied prime areas in Dhaka and different elements of the nation, have been allegedly acquired utilizing illicit earnings. To stop the switch or sale of those properties and to make sure they are often confiscated by the federal government following a court docket trial, the court docket ordered an instantaneous freeze on Haque’s belongings.

Enamul Haque’s properties include-Three acres of land in Zoar Sahara, Gulshan, Nearly one bigha of land in Khilkhet, Dhaka, 1170 sq. ft. flat with widespread area in Irish Noor Jahan Tower, Kakrail, 1835 sq. ft. flat with automotive parking in the identical constructing. Every of those properties is estimated to be price considerably greater than what’s formally declared on paper. The mixed estimated worth of those belongings ranges between BDT 80 to 90 million.

Moreover, Haque owns two extra flats in Kakrail, valued at BDT 20.85 million, 5 kathas of land in Gazipur price BDT 6.25 million, and three business areas in Mohammadpur. He additionally possesses one other business area of 10,965 sq. toes in Mohammadpur, and a 2428 sq. toes flat within the elite space of Gulshan, together with 4 katha of underdeveloped land in Badda, valued at round BDT 1.5 million.

The ACC’s findings, primarily based on in depth investigations, revealed that Enamul Haque had engaged in a scientific accumulation of belongings that have been grossly disproportionate to his declared earnings. The case, filed by ACC Assistant Director Mahbubul Alam on July 31 of the earlier 12 months, accused Haque of buying unlawful belongings price round BDT 90.7697 million. This quantity constitutes a good portion of his complete declared belongings, which amounted to BDT 170.7631 million, indicating an enormous discrepancy between his professional earnings and the precise worth of his properties.

Among the many quite a few belongings detailed within the ACC’s investigation, Enamul Haque’s properties in Dhaka stood out for his or her worth and site. He owns three plots within the upscale Gulshan space, three plots within the Bashundhara residential space, and one other three plots in the identical neighborhood. Moreover, Enamul Haque has a nine-storied constructing constructed on a plot in Bashundhara, with the development price alone exceeding two crore rupees. The investigation additionally uncovered that he purchased land in Nasirabad, Chittagong, and Sonagazi in Feni, amounting to twenty katha.

Along with these properties, Enamul Haque bought 5 acres of land in Chandra, Gazipur, for 3 million rupees. In the course of the investigation, the ACC additionally found two business flooring in Shyamoli Sq. and Thanthi Tower in Dhaka registered in his identify.

This seizure of Enamul Haque’s belongings is a part of a broader crackdown by the ACC on corruption throughout the NBR. Simply days earlier, on July 27, the court docket ordered the freezing of properties and financial institution accounts belonging to NBR First Secretary (Tax) Kazi Abu Mahmud Faisal and his family members. Faisal’s belongings included a number of plots in Dhaka-Narayanganj and a flat in Ramna, Dhaka. The court docket additionally ordered the freezing of 87 accounts throughout 19 banks and a monetary establishment within the names of Faisal and his family members.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s “battle in opposition to corruption” marketing campaign has dropped at mild the illegally acquired wealth of quite a few authorities officers and staff. This marketing campaign, characterised by rigorous investigations and high-profile arrests, goals to root out corruption from the best echelons of presidency. The Prime Minister’s stern stance on corruption is mirrored by central leaders of the ruling occasion, who’ve publicly voiced their assist for strict anti-corruption measures.

At a latest dialogue assembly organized by the Dhaka District Awami League at Savar, marking the seventy fifth founding anniversary of the Awami League, Common Secretary of the ruling occasion and Authorities Minister for Highway Transport and Bridges, Obaidul Quader, reaffirmed the federal government’s dedication to combating corruption. Talking because the chief visitor, Quader emphasised the federal government’s resolve to eradicate corruption, looting, and cash laundering. “We are going to as soon as once more play in opposition to corruption, in opposition to looting, in opposition to cash laundering. Bangladesh should be free from corruption. We are going to depart Sheikh Hasina’s promise to the letter. Let me say one factor, if the minister is sincere, if the secretary is sincere, there will probably be no corruption in that ministry. If we public representatives are sincere, corruption will escape,” he asserted.

Quader’s remarks spotlight the federal government’s broader imaginative and prescient of constructing a corruption-free Bangladesh, aligning with the legacy of the nation’s founding father, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Beneath Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s management, the federal government is working in direction of making a “Sonar Bangla,” a nation free from the scourge of corruption. Quader additionally praised the Prime Minister’s management, stating, “After Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, there isn’t any such sincere and fearless chief like Sheikh Hasina on this nation. Beneath the management of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Sonar Bangla is being constructed. We’re vocal in opposition to dictatorship, injustice, and corruption. The corrupt will flee.”

The continuing crackdown by the ACC and the federal government’s agency stance in opposition to corruption sign a brand new period of accountability and transparency in Bangladesh. By concentrating on high-ranking officers and making certain that illegally acquired belongings are seized and returned to the state, the ACC is setting a precedent for the long run. The latest actions in opposition to Enamul Haque and different NBR officers are a testomony to the effectiveness of this marketing campaign.

Because the ACC continues its investigations, extra officers could also be dropped at justice, furthering the federal government’s goal of a corruption-free administration. The collaboration between the ACC, the judiciary, and the chief department underscores a unified strategy to tackling corruption, making certain that those that misuse their energy for private achieve are held accountable.

In abstract, the ACC’s relentless efforts to show and penalize corrupt officers throughout the NBR replicate a broader dedication to fostering integrity and transparency throughout the authorities. The latest seizure of Enamul Haque’s belongings and the continued investigations into different officers signify a vital step in direction of eradicating corruption and constructing a extra simply and equitable society in Bangladesh.