ACC Probes Wealth Allegations Against Mymensingh Cooperative Officer

Complaint alleges political influence, prolonged posting and Tk110m in corruption; ACC says preliminary inquiry sent to headquarters

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has begun examining allegations of corruption and unexplained wealth against a cooperative officer in Mymensingh, following a complaint alleging that he accumulated assets worth several hundred million taka through abuse of office and political connections.

Mohammad Kamruzzaman, a cooperative officer in Mymensingh Sadar, has been accused of using political influence to remain in the same posting for years while allegedly building an extensive property portfolio in and around the city.

The allegations include abuse of authority, irregularities in official activities, political patronage and the accumulation of assets allegedly disproportionate to his known sources of income. The ACC has acknowledged receiving a complaint against Kamruzzaman.

Jahangir Alam, a deputy director of the ACC, said the complaint alleged corruption involving about Tk110 million. An individual had submitted the complaint in the public interest and that an initial inquiry had been conducted before the matter was sent to the ACC headquarters for approval. The investigation is ongoing and no finding of wrongdoing has yet been announced.

According to the complaint, Kamruzzaman remained posted in Mymensingh Sadar for nearly seven years with the alleged support of former state minister Sharif Ahmed and former Mymensingh district Awami League general secretary advocate Moazzem Hossain Babul.

The complaint claims that letters of recommendation, or D.O. letters, from the political figures were used to support his continued posting. It further alleges that Kamruzzaman became locally known as a political leader’s “cashier” because of his alleged proximity to Sharif Ahmed.

Sharif Ahmed served as a member of parliament from Mymensingh-2 and was a state minister for housing and public works during the previous government. Public reporting has also documented his political career and influence in Mymensingh. (Khaborer Kagoj)

The complaint alleges that attempts by senior officials to transfer Kamruzzaman were resisted through political intervention, including telephone calls and pressure on officials.

Property portfolio under scrutiny

The complaint alleges that Kamruzzaman accumulated substantial property in strategic locations in Mymensingh using money obtained through irregular means. Among the assets cited are three luxury apartments in the 14-storey Golapjan Swapno Tower, with an estimated combined value of around Tk60 million.

The complaint also alleges that Kamruzzaman jointly purchased 11 additional apartments and about 90 decimals of land in Mymensingh with Sharif Ahmed. The allegation of joint ownership is particularly significant because establishing the actual ownership structure, purchase price, funding sources and beneficial ownership of the properties would require examination of land records, registration documents, bank transactions and tax filings.

The complaint further alleges that Kamruzzaman owns about 35 decimals of land in the Maskanda area, estimated by the complainant to be worth around Tk40 million, along with additional property in various commercial and strategically located areas of the city valued at roughly Tk50 million.

Questions over long-term posting

At the heart of the allegations is Kamruzzaman’s reported lengthy tenure in the same workplace. The complainants argue that his continued posting for nearly seven years created an opportunity to establish influence over the local cooperative administration and facilitate alleged financial irregularities.

They have asked the ACC and the Ministry of Cooperatives to examine his postings, financial records, property declarations, bank accounts and transactions involving companies or individuals allegedly linked to him.

The investigation could also determine whether the properties were acquired with legitimately earned income or through funds that were not properly disclosed.

The ACC’s inquiry could potentially establish several key facts: the actual extent of Kamruzzaman’s assets, the sources of funds used to acquire them, whether he or his associates benefited financially from official decisions, and whether political influence played a role in his postings. It could also establish whether the properties allegedly linked to him are legally registered in his name, jointly owned, or held through relatives or other entities.

At present, however, the allegations remain subject to investigation. Neither the alleged political influence nor the claims of illicit wealth or financial transactions have been established as facts by a court or through a completed ACC investigation. The relevant records and financial transactions would therefore be critical in determining whether the assets are consistent with Kamruzzaman’s lawful income. 

Attempts to obtain a response from Kamruzzaman regarding the allegations were unsuccessful. His response will be included if received. The ACC’s investigation remains ongoing.