Mashrekha Jahan Mona

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has found assets of about Tk 500 crores in the name and unanimous of former Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal (Lotus Kamal).

This was found in the initial secret search. The ACC has launched a public inquiry into the known non-cash assets of Lotus Kamal and his family members.

ACC has accused Lotus Kamal of amassing huge wealth by laundering money in various countries including the United States. ACC officials believe that his wealth will increase several times in the public investigation. A special team of ACC is probing the known non-income assets of Lotus Kamal and family members.

ACC has complained that Lotus Kamal embezzled money for various projects while he was the finance minister of the Awami League government. He has become the owner of huge wealth through commission trading and irregularities and corruption. His wealth at home and abroad will exceed thousands of crores of taka.

However, in the initial secret investigation, the ACC found information about his assets of Rs. 500 crore anonymously. According to ACC officials, legal action will be taken against the assets of Lotus Kamal and his family members if they do not comply with the declared income.

According to the ACC's secret investigation, there is a modern commercial building 'Lotus Kamal Tower' in Zwarsahara in Nikunj, Dhaka. He has multi-storied houses and expensive flats in Badda and Uttara. There are huge sums of money in various banks and financial institutions. There is a huge investment in the stock market. The proof of investment of Tk 50 crore is found in the savings certificate. Lotus Kamal has invested heavily in various companies including Lotus Kamal Properties and Orbital Enterprises.

Besides , he has bought plots and flats in Gulshan, Badda and other areas of Dhaka in the name of his wife Kashmiri Kamal. He and his wife own a large amount of land in Comilla, the village home. There is cash in various banks in the name of the wife. Kashmiri Kamal also has investments in financial institutions and shares. Kashmiri has invested 25 crores in various companies including Lotus Kamal Properties and Saudi Bangladesh Contracting Company. He has a savings account worth around Tk 40 crore. He owns three expensive cars.

ACC has received the information of Lotus Kamal having about Tk 80 crore in banks and financial institutions. He has shown the value of immovable and immovable assets less than the actual value in the income tax documents.

ACC has already sent letters to Bangladesh Bank, public and private banks and financial institutions, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission, Rajuk, Dhaka and Comilla City Corporation, Public Works Directorate, Registrar's Office and Land Office to trace the assets of Lotus Kamal and his family members.

It is also alleged that former Finance Minister Mustafa Kamal embezzled at least 20 thousand crore rupees through a syndicate in the name of exporting manpower to Malaysia. In the last year and a half, his jointly owned recruiting agency has sent more than 450,000 Bangladeshi workers abroad.

It is supposed to be a business of 24 thousand crore rupees, but at least 20 thousand crores of taka have been collected. Many of those workers have returned home after being cheated again. Lotus Kamal's recruiting agency is said to be involved with a fraud syndicate in Malaysia.