Ex-home minister, his family sued for making huge wealth thru' bribery

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed five separate cases against former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, his wife, their two children and APS on the allegations of amassing illegal wealth through misuse of power, and bribery in recruitment.

This is for the first time that the state-run corruption watchdog has filed any case against an influential minister of the previous government ousted through mass uprising.

Ex-minister's Assistant Private Secretary (APS) Monir Hossain has also been named in the cases.

"Based on the investigation,  the ACC found illegal wealth of the ex-home minister, his wife Lutful Tahmina Khan, their son Shafi Moddaser Khan, daughter Sofia Tasnim Khan, and ex-minister's APS Monir Hossain," ACC director general (Prevention) Akhtar Hossain told journalists today.

He said ACC officials filed the cases against them on Wednesday.

ACC sources said the charges brought against the former home minister include amassing illegal wealth worth hundreds of crores of taka and money laundering.

ACC found illegal wealth of former home minister, his wife and two children about Tk 60 crore 55 lakh 99 thousand 156.

Asaduzzaman also concealed information of Tk 416 crore 74 lakh 86 thousand and transactions in 36 bank accounts in their names, the investigation revealed.

Meanwhile, the minister's APS Monir Hossain's illegal wealth of Tk 18 crore 82 lakh 56 thousand 142 has been found. Apart from this, illegal transactions of Tk 31 crore 31 lakh 70 thousand 834 were found in 12 bank accounts.

Asaduzzaman Khan went into hiding since the fall of Awami League government on August 5 triggered by students-led mass uprising.

It may be mentioned that the ACC started investigation into the allegations of bribery in appointment, promotion and transfer on August 15 last. In sequel to it, the ACC filed five seperate cases against the former home minister and his family members on Wedmesday.

Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has already suspended the transactions in the banks accounts of Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, his wife and other family members.