ACC prosecutes city councillors Habib, Tariquzzaman

The Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday filed two cases against Dhaka North City Corporation councillors Habibur Rahman Mizan and Tariquzzaman Rajib for allegedly accumulating illegal wealth.

The commission deputy director Gulshan Anwar Pradhan and assistant director Mamunur Rashid Chowdhury filed the cases against the DNCC councillors, said the commission public relations officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharjee.

According to the first information report DNCC ward 32 councillor Habibur Rahman accumulated illegal wealth worth Tk 30.16 crore through illegal means including casino business.

The commission findings said Habib constructed a market named Habib Plaza on 30 katha land at Basila Road of Mohammadpur which he acquired illegally.

He also built several buildings in different areas in the capital that conflicts his known sources of income.

Another FIR said DNCC ward 33 councillor Tariquzzaman accumulated illegal wealth worth Tk 26.16 crore.

The commission findings said Tariquzzaman bought some luxury flats at different posh areas in the capital that contradicts his sources of income.

On October 12, RAB arrested former Mohammadpur unit Awami League general secretary Habibur from Sreemangal of Moulvibazar as part of the ongoing drive against the casinos.

RAB said Habibur was engaged in corruption, land-grabbing, toll-collecting from footpath, markets, illegally taking over cable and internet businesses alongside patronising gambling and involving in torture.

Cheques of Tk 6 crore 77 lakh, fixed deposit receipts of Tk 1 crore and cash Tk 2 lakh was found at  his house  as hours after his arrest, the RAB brought him to Dhaka and conducted a drive at his residence on Aorangazeb Road in Mohammadpur.

On October 20, RAB detained Tariquzzaman from a house in Bashundhara Residential Area for his alleged involvement in casino business.

The ward councillor went into hiding after the crackdown on illegal casino business began on September 18.

On September 30, the commission launched inquiries to detect the illegal wealth of the people involved in the unauthorised casino operations and other illegal businesses.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net