August 27 – On Wednesday, the Anti-Corruption Commission discovered proof of illicit properties valued at approximately TK 3.36 crores under the names of former Food Minister and Awami League Presidium member Md Abdur Razzaque, his spouse, and their child.
The committee has chosen to send individual notifications requesting them to provide their asset declarations, said Md Akhtarul Islam, an official from the ACC Public Relations Department.
As per the ACC investigation report, Razzaque possesses assets including both moveable and immovable property valued at Tk 6.72 crore. He was able to present legitimate origins for Tk 4.77 crore, with Tk 1.94 crore remaining unaccounted for.
He was also unable to offer sufficient explanation for approximately Tk 1.36 crores in his income tax filings, even after being questioned and having documents examined.
His spouse, Shirin Akhter Banu, was discovered to possess assets valued at Tk 3.28 crore, which included Tk 2.77 crore in property holdings and Tk 51 lakh allocated for household expenditures. However, documented legitimate earnings were identified for just Tk 2.37 crore, resulting in an uncovered amount of Tk 90.71 lakh.
According to the ACC document, during the fiscal years 2008-09 through 2024-25, she reported earning Tk 38.20 lakh from various sources and Tk 19.98 lakh from gains on securities, which did not align with her overall increase in assets.
Rezwan Shahriar Sumit, his son, was discovered to possess assets valued at Tk 1.24 crore, which included items that can be moved. He managed to present proof of legitimate earnings amounting to just Tk 73.68 lakh, resulting in an uncovered sum of Tk 51.12 lakh.
The ACC stated that the financial holdings of the Razzaque family do not align with their documented sources of earnings. As a result, notifications under Section 26(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004 will be served upon Abdur Razzaque, his spouse, and his child.
The BNP calls for the restructuring of the Election Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission.
Razzaque initially won his seat in parliament in 2001. Prior to holding the position of Minister of Food and Disaster Management between 2009 and 2012, he held the role of Central Secretary for Agriculture and Cooperatives within the Awami League. Later, he continued serving as the Food Minister up until January 2014.
He previously led the Parliamentary Standing Committee for the Finance Ministry and is now a member of the Presidium within the Awami League.
