Amid the ongoing legal proceedings against former National Board of Revenue (NBR) official Matiur Rahman, a Dhaka court on Thursday ordered the seizure of four flats and eight acres (866 decimals) of land belonging to his family.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mohammad As-Shams Jaglul Hossain issued the order following an application filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).
Among the four flats, three are located in the capital's Bashundhara area and are registered under the name of Matiur's first wife, Laila Kaniz Lucky, who is the chairman of Narsingdi's Raipura upazila. The fourth flat is located in Jhigatola and is registered under the name of his second wife, Shammi Akhtar Shibli.
The seized properties also include 114 decimals (69 khata) of land in Matiur's name, 522 decimals of land in Laila Kaniz's name, and 275 decimals of land in the name of his son, Ahmed Taufiqur Rahman Arnab.
Apart from this, there is a five-katha plot in Bashundhara registered in the name of Matiur's daughter Farzana Rahman Ipsita, and another five-katha plot registered in the name of Shammi Akhtar Shibli.
Earlier on July 2, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) issued a notice asking Matiur Rahman to submit his wealth statements along with information about the assets of his wives and children.
The notice mentions that action will be taken as per the Anti-Corruption Commission Act if he fails to submit their asset statements in the prescribed form within 21 working days of receiving this order, or if a false asset statement is filed.
Matiur Rahman recently came to limelight after his son from his second marriage attempted to purchase a goat for Tk15 lakh ahead of Eid-ul-Adha.
Matiur Rahman was a joint commissioner of Chattogram Custom House during the caretaker government regime. The then army chief also requested the NBR chairman to change one of his transfer orders at that time, according to reports.
The ACC launched a probe against the former NBR official on June 4. A three-member team is working on the investigation.
From his birthplace in Barishal to Dhaka, Gazipur, Narsingdi, and Feni, extensive properties have been found linked to Matiur.
The properties include land, apartments, factories, luxurious houses, and resorts. While some are registered under Matiur Rahman's name, a significant portion is held in the names of his first wife Laila Kanis Lucky, his son, daughter, and various relatives.
The highlight of Matiur's reported assets appears to be Wonder Park, an amusement park in Narsingdi's Raipur upazila linked to his first wife. The park occupies around 15 bighas of land.
Additionally, Apon Bhuban Picnic and Shooting Spot, a sprawling 60-bigha resort reportedly co-owned by Matiur and his wife, boasts various amenities and has been used for filming locations.
Matiur is now attached to the Internal Resources Division (IRD) of the finance ministry after being removed as the president of NBR Customs, Excise and VAT Appellate Tribunal.
However, according to finance ministry sources, his joining letter to IRD has been rejected and he is being considered a fugitive as his whereabouts remain unknown.
Currently under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for allegedly possessing undisclosed assets, he had constructed two luxurious duplex houses—one for his first wife and another for his second wife's mother.
Additionally, he also has investments in the capital market, which served as a significant source of his wealth accumulation.
Court orders seizure of 2 flats, 3 commercial spaces of customs official Enamul
In response to the Anti-Corruption Commission's application, the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Mohammad Ash-Shams Joglul Hossain on Thursday ordered the confiscation of the assets belonging to the customs commissioner.
ACC Public Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajol confirmed the matter.
Mohammad Enamul Haque, however, has denied the allegations of acquiring wealth through illegal means.
Contacted by The Business Standard, he said, "All my wealth has been acquired through legitimate means. My loans, or my own income, have all been acquired through properties and everything is shown in our tax file. But I have no income from businesses."
He said, "A case of this kind has been going on against me for the last one year and I have also given all kinds of documents related to it, which have now come to the inquiry stage. But suddenly someone may have brought this [allegations] up, which is like adding fuel to the fire.
"As the case is in the inquiry stage, they could have waited until it was completed," he said.
According to ACC and court sources, the anti-graft body filed a case against customs commissioner Mohammad Enamul Haque on July 31 last year on allegation of amassing illegal wealth worth Tk9.76 crore.
On Thursday, a petition was filed to seeking seizure of Mohammad Enamul Haque's 9-storey house in Bashundhara G-Block, two flats in Banani and Kakrail, three commercial spaces in Mohammadpur and other areas of the capital, and a car parking space in Gulshan.
After the hearing, the court granted the application and ordered the seizure of the assets.
Besides, the court ordered confiscating Enamul Haque's land in Gazipur and capital's Badda.
Earlier in June, the court ordered the seizure of NBR First Secretary Quazi Abu Mahmud Faisal's immovable assets and the freezing of his movable assets.
Local admin takes over Benazir’s 25-acre Bandarban property
Correspondent from Bandarban reports; the local administration on Thursday took charge of 25 acres of property – valued at Tk 30 crore – in Bandarban district, belonging to former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed.
The operation, led by Deputy Commissioner Shah Mozahid Uddin and officials from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), involved seizing control of Benazir’s garden house, cattle farm, and fish farm in the morning.
Local sources reported that Benazir accumulated 50 acres of land in Sualak union and 100 acres in Lama upazila.
After taking charge, the team installed a signboard and secured the garden house under lock and key.
The local administration will deposit any income generated from these properties into the government treasury.
