Photo : Messenger
Disproportionate assets worth Tk 6 crore 54 lakhs were discovered in the name of a UP chairman and his wife before filing their asset declarations. Mohammed Liaquat Ali, the Chairman of Gandamara Union Parishad No. 9 in Banskhali Upazila of Chattogram, and his wife Jasmin Akter acquired this wealth. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) uncovered these assets.
Most of the disproportionate assets belonging to the chairman and his wife are in the form of land. They have one daughter and three sons.
Mohammed Liaquat Ali was elected as the chairman of Gandamara Union Parishad in 2003, 2007 and 2022.
ACC Assistant Director Abdul Malek submitted an enquiry report recommending the issuance of separate asset declaration submission orders per section 26(1) of the ACC Act, 2004, as the complaint is initially evident. Recently, the commission decided to issue a notice for asset declaration.
Having assigned to the responsibility of enquiry on November 30, 2022, Assistant Director Abdul Malek submitted the enquiry report to the supervisor on March 30, 2023.
According to ACC sources, movable and immovable property worth Tk 5 crore 12 lakh 63 thousand was found in the name of Mohammed Liaquat Ali. At the same time, he spent Tk 87 lakh on family and other expenses. His total acquired wealth, including expenses, is Tk 5 crore 99 lakh 63 thousand. Against the acquisition of these assets, a legal and acceptable source of income of Tk 2 crore 52 lakh 94 thousand has been found according to his income tax documents and records received. As such, assets of Tk 3 crore 46 lakh 69 thousand were found inconsistent with the known source of income rather than his acquired wealth.
According to ACC sources, movable and immovable assets worth Tk 3 crore 54 lakh 60 thousand have been found in the name of Jasmin Akter. At the same time, she incurred other expenses, including family expenses of Tk 31 lakh 50 thousand. Her total acquired wealth, including expenses, is Tk 3 crore 86 lakh 10 thousand. Against the acquisition of these assets, a legitimate and acceptable source of income of Tk 78 lakh 24 thousand has been found according to her income tax documents and records received. As such, assets of Tk 3 crore 7 lakh 86 thousand were found inconsistent with the known source of income rather than her acquired wealth.
The first income tax return filing was found in the name of Mohammed Liaquat Ali for the year 2019-2020, and he filed the return during the enquiry. Therefore, the tax year 2019-2020 has been considered as the base year because he must have filed an income tax return if he had taxable income earlier. Also, no source of income on record for the previous tax year 2019-2020 could be found.
Jasmin Akter was also found to have filed her first income tax return for the tax year 2019-2020, and during the enquiry, she filed the return for the tax year 2022-2023. Therefore, the tax year 2019-2020 has been considered as the base year because she must have filed an income tax return if she had taxable income earlier. Also, no source of income on record for the previous tax year 2019-2020 could be found.
Mohammed Liaquat Ali was released on bail from Chattogram Jail on the night of June 13. Before that, the police arrested him from his residence in Chattogram city on the night of February 9. He is accused in three separate cases filed with the police station in an incident that occurred in Banshkhali on February 8.
Messenger/Disha
