ACC prosecutes former minister Tazul, wife over ‘illicit assets’
Staff Correspondent
The Anti-Corruption Commission, or ACC, has prosecuted former local government minister Md Tazul Islam and his wife Fauzia Islam over allegations of having wealth beyond means.
The couple face allegations of of acquiring Tk 147 million in illegal assets.
Two cases were lodged on Wednesday at the commission's Integrated District Office 1 in Dhaka, according to its director general Md Akhter Hossain.
Tazul, who represented Cumilla-9 or Laksam-Monohargonj constituency as an MP from the Awami League for four consecutive terms since 2008, is accused of amassing Tk 78 million in assets inconsistent with his known sources of income while in office.
The ACC also flagged "suspicious" transactions totalling Tk 1.39 billion in 35 bank accounts linked to him, the case statement said.
The charges against Tazul were filed under multiple provisions of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2004, the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2012, and the Prevention of Corruption Act 1947.
Fauzia faces a separate case for allegedly benefiting from her husband's "illicit" income.
She is accused of acquiring Tk 69 million in unexplained assets.
Moreover, Tk 271 million was allegedly transacted suspiciously through 11 bank accounts in her name.
The ACC began investigating Tazul in August 2024 after the fall of the Awami League government on Aug 5, following a student-led uprising.
On Sept 2, Tazul’s bank accounts were frozen as part of the probe.
The allegations are part of a broader crackdown on corruption involving prominent figures from the previous administration.
