The emperor of corruption in Bangladesh: Mehraj Ul Alam Samrat’s manipulative techniques to legitimize illicit wealth

Mehraj ul Alam Samrat, former Second Secretary of the Nationwide Board of Income (NBR), has earned the infamous title of “Emperor of Corruption.” Following the corrupt footsteps of Kazi Abu Mahmud Faisal, one other disgraced NBR official, Samrat has allegedly amassed a fortune by means of fraudulent means. Regardless of an ongoing investigation by the Anti-Corruption Fee (ACC), he stays a free man, protected by influential networks and strategic maneuvers designed to dodge accountability.

Samrat’s descent into corruption started shortly after he joined the NBR’s Customs cadre on June 3, 2012, after passing the thirtieth batch of the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) exams. He served in numerous essential commissionerates, together with the Chittagong Customs Home, the place allegations of bribery and corruption first surfaced. Throughout his tenure, he held the place of Second Secretary of the Customs Division for 2 years and was later appointed to the company’s Central Intelligence Cell (CIC). This appointment raised eyebrows each inside and outdoors the NBR, as people accused of bribery and corruption are usually not posted within the CIC.

As Samrat’s profession progressed, so did his illicit wealth accumulation. His spouse, Nasheeda Ali, and mother-in-law, Rokeya Begum, turned central figures in his schemes. Earnings tax recordsdata opened for each girls reveal vital land acquisitions and different property that seem disproportionate to their reliable incomes.

In November 2013, a 12 months after Samrat’s appointment, an earnings tax file was opened for Rokeya Begum, ostensibly to launder black cash. This file confirmed substantial land holdings in Cox’s Bazar, acquired by means of doubtful means. The ACC investigation revealed that Samrat purchased land price at the very least BDT 160 million in Magnama Mauza of Pekua Upazila, Cox’s Bazar, with plans to develop a resort. The earnings tax recordsdata of each Rokeya Begum and Nasheeda Ali record this land as inherited, regardless of discrepancies within the particulars and the bigger portion showing below Nasheeda’s title. This inconsistency suggests an try and legitimize unlawful cash by transferring property possession from the mother-in-law to the spouse.

Additional scrutiny of the earnings tax recordsdata reveals a number of irregularities. The everlasting deal with of Rokeya Begum was mysteriously modified from Pekua, Cox’s Bazar, to deal with quantity 94, Abhizat OR Nizam Highway, Panchlaish, Chittagong. Moreover, Samrat’s cell quantity was utilized in her tax file. These manipulations level to deliberate efforts to hide the origins of the illicit property.

Samrat’s fraudulent actions lengthen to luxurious property. He bought a 2,372 sq. ft condominium within the upscale ‘Navana Lupin’ high-rise constructing at 297/D, Highway No. 15, C Block, Bashundhara residential space, for BDT 30.328 million. Nevertheless, the deed worth recorded within the earnings tax file is barely BDT 8.4 million, hiding practically BDT 20.5 million in unlawful wealth. Moreover, he purchased gold ornaments price BDT 10 million for his spouse and mother-in-law, falsely declaring them as wedding ceremony presents of their earnings tax recordsdata.

Financial institution data have unveiled extra cases of embezzlement by Samrat. On February 15, 2022, he opened a benami account in Padma Financial institution below the title of Janaik Hasan, a resident of Bashundhara residential space, and made an FDR (Fastened Deposit Receipt) of BDT 5 million. Hasan’s everlasting deal with is listed as Comilla, however Samrat’s cell quantity was used to open the account. Earlier, in December 2021, Samrat made three FDRs totaling BDT 3 million in the identical financial institution.

Related patterns emerged with vital deposits in Shahjalal Islami Financial institution and United Business Financial institution, the place totally different cell numbers linked to Samrat have been used to open accounts. The ACC investigation can hint these benami accounts by means of the Bangladesh Monetary Intelligence Unit (BFIU) primarily based on the cell numbers used.

Samrat’s corruption extends to automobile registrations. He bought a Hyundai Tucson luxurious automobile (Dhaka Metro G-21-5152) registered in his mother-in-law’s title, with the proprietor’s deal with listed as his Bashundhara condominium. The cell quantity used for the TIN (Taxpayer Identification Quantity) communication was faux, belonging to a younger man from Rangpur. Moreover, his spouse, Nasheeda Ali, acquired a Premio automobile (Dhaka Metro G-26-3192) with a mortgage, and an FDR of BDT 1 million was present in her title at UCB Financial institution.

When confronted in regards to the allegations, Samrat denied any wrongdoing, attributing the ACC complaints to a bunch offended by his work on the CIC. He claimed that the properties in Cox’s Bazar have been inherited by means of his in-laws and that the allegations of buying a high-value condominium and making benami FDRs have been false. He additionally denied involvement in automobile registration fraud, asserting that the automobiles have been purchased together with his mother-in-law’s and spouse’s cash, as mirrored of their earnings tax recordsdata.

In a bid to keep away from controversy and scrutiny, Samrat strategically joined the Asian Improvement Financial institution (ADB) for a six-month mortgage on June 23, 2023. This transfer was perceived as an try and defend himself from ongoing investigations and public outrage over his alleged corruption. Throughout this era, influential circles have been lobbying to finish the complaints towards him, additional complicating the ACC’s efforts to carry him to justice.

The ACC has performed an intensive investigation into Samrat’s illicit actions, reviewing his private recordsdata, earnings tax data, and paperwork associated to the complaints. Regardless of discovering substantial proof of fraud and unlawful wealth, the case stays unresolved. ACC officers, together with assistant director Atiya Tama, have avoided commenting publicly, citing the continuing investigation.

Media investigations have corroborated the ACC’s findings, revealing the extent of Samrat’s corrupt practices and manipulative techniques. Paperwork obtained from the ACC present an in depth account of his fraudulent schemes and the involvement of his members of the family in laundering illicit funds.

Mehraj ul Alam Samrat’s case serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive corruption that undermines public belief and hinders growth in Bangladesh. Addressing systemic corruption requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders, together with authorities businesses, civil society, and worldwide companions. By implementing complete anti-corruption measures and holding corrupt officers accountable, Bangladesh can work in the direction of a extra clear, simply, and affluent future.

Mehraj ul Alam Samrat’s crafty strategies to legitimize unlawful property and evade accountability spotlight the deep-rooted corruption throughout the NBR and different establishments. Regardless of mounting proof of his fraudulent actions, he stays protected by influential networks and strategic strikes designed to defend him from the legislation. The ACC’s investigation is ongoing, however the “Emperor of Corruption” has but to face the complete power of justice. Because the probe continues, it’s essential for authorities to behave decisively to uphold justice and curb systemic corruption throughout the NBR and past.

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