Photo: Messenger
Through the alleged act of bribing an officer of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) with Tk 1 crore, a book dealer from Old Dhaka has purportedly concealed illegal wealth totalling Tk 32 crore under the guise of a fish and poultry business.
In connection with this incident, the ACC has filed a case against the book dealer, Mohammed Abu Sayeed, a resident from the capital’s Sutrapur, on charges of acquiring assets beyond known sources of his income. Deputy Director SMM Akhtar Hamid Bhuiyan filed the case at the ACC's integrated district office (Dhaka-1) on Sunday.
Additionally, the ACC is conducting a separate inquiry against former Tax Commissioner AJM Ziaul Hoq, who is accused of accepting a Tk 1 crore bribe from Abu Sayeed, on allegations of acquiring illegal assets.
Previously, an investigation into the complaint of acquiring illegal wealth of Tk 32 crore against Mohammed Abu Sayeed was initiated, but no evidence was found. Instead, a recommendation for closing the investigation was made. However, things did not go as planned for the perpetrators.
The case statement reveals, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) issued a notice to Abu Sayeed, asking an account of his assets after receiving a complaint that he had evaded a significant amount of tax by bribing A J M Ziaul Hoq, Tax Zone-7. After a lengthy investigation, it was discovered that he had acquired and was in possession of assets worth Tk 32 crore, 2 lakh, and 80 thousand, and 209, beyond the known sources of his income. In doing so, Abu Sayeed committed an offense punishable under Section 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004.
According to ACC sources, SM Sahidur Rahman, who sought the closure of the complaint, was promoted to the position of director on September 8, before retiring on September 19, 2022.
The NBR sources informed that AJM Ziaul Hoq retired as Tax Commissioner of Zone-14 three years ago. He was allowed to retire without submitting the inquiry report into the allegations against him.
The statement mentions that Abu Sayeed filed his asset declaration on October 14, 2019. He declared a total wealth of Tk 45 crore, 50 lakh, 38 thousand, 978, including immovable property valued at Tk 27 crore, 59 lakh, 99 thousand, 875, and movable property of Tk 17 crore, 90 lakh, 39 thousand, 103 in his name. Additionally, he reported an income of Tk 11 crore, 96 lakh, 55 thousand in the fiscal year 2014-15.
Besides, a total of Tk 15 crore 28 lakh 94 thousand, with Tk 7 crore 52 thousand in the fiscal year 2014-15, Tk 7 crore 99 lakh 14 thousand in fiscal year 2015-16 and 29 lakh 28 thousand in fiscal year 2016-17 as income from fish farm was shown in the income tax document. On the other hand, a total of Tk 16 crore 70 lakh and 85 thousand were mentioned as the income from poultry farm in the tax documents, with Tk 7 crore 95 thousand in 2015-16 fiscal year and Tk 9 crore 72 lakh and 89 thousand in 2016-17 fiscal year.
The statement states that the fish and poultry farms mentioned as sources of income did not exist. After an on-site inspection, fish and poultry farms were found to have been established in 2019-2020, with different locations. Essentially, these farms were built intentionally and operated since the start of the ACC investigation, and no legitimate and acceptable source of income amounting to Tk 32 crore was found.
In the 32nd commission meeting held on September 5, it was reported that after investigating the complaint against Mohammed Abu Sayeed regarding the acquisition of assets beyond known sources of his income, the first investigating officer, Deputy Director SMM Akhtar Hamid Bhuiya, submitted an asset statement identifying the business of the concerned person as non-existent assets and reported it to the commission with recommendations. Subsequently, SM Sahidur Rahman, the former deputy director, now retired director, was appointed to verify the report. After verification, he recommended closing the complaint.
Because the reports of the investigating officer and the verification officer were contradictory, a three-member verification committee was formed, with Director Mohammad Yousuf as the team leader, to verify the two reports. According to the report of that committee, Abu Sayeed showed a total of Tk 32 crore, 2 lakh, 80 thousand, 209, with Tk 15 crore, 28 lakh, 94 thousand, 576 in the fishery sector and Tk 16 crore, 73 lakh, 85 thousand, 633 in the income tax return of Abu Sayeed for the tax years 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-17. The fish and poultry farms were not found to exist as shown in the income. The on-site inspection revealed that fish and poultry farms were set up in 2019-2020, with different locations. Essentially, these farms were purpose-built and operated since the start of the ACC investigation. Therefore, the commission approved the case.
“When contacted to inquire about the bribery allegations, AJM Ziaul Hoq on Tuesday told The Daily Messenger from Canada, “The then Deputy Commissioner assessed the income tax documents of businessman Abu Sayeed.”
He also said, “During my tenure in Rajshahi, a doctor filed a case against me after I took action against his tax evasion. Following the court order, the ACC investigated and cleared me of that case. Later, an officer of NBR filed a complaint against me with the ACC. I filed my asset declaration in 2019, and now an investigation is ongoing regarding the allegation of acquiring illegal assets.”
Furthermore, attempts were made to learn why SM Sahidur Rahman suggested closing the complaint, but he did not answer the phone.
A call to the accused, Abu Sayeed, went unanswered on his mobile number, but he did receive calls on his WhatsApp number. However, when questioned about the complaint and identified as a journalist, he abruptly ended the call.
Messenger/Nazrul/Fardin
