Home
+
Published : 08 Jun 2025, 11:26 AM
Following the ouster of the Awami League government through a mass uprising, Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched inquiry into alleged corruption, illegal wealth accumulation, and money laundering involving at least 10 former senior military officials, alongside several former ministers, civil servants and political figures.
The watchtog is investigating the complaints, some of which have already led to formal cases, asset seizures, and travel bans.
Among those under scrutiny are a former army chief, heads of intelligence agencies, and senior defence officials.
Many have gone into hiding since the political shift, with their phones either unreachable or unanswered.
Each case is being handled by teams of at least three ACC officials.
bdnews24.com sought comments from those involved in the probes, but none agreed to speak on record due to ongoing investigations.
The national anti-graft agency’s Director General Md Akhter Hossain recently told bdnews24.com, “All ongoing investigations are proceeding in accordance with due process. The investigating officers are collecting documents and questioning individuals where required.
“Once the inquiries are complete,” he added, “the responsible officer or team will submit a report to the commission, which will then determine the next course of action based on the findings.”
FORMER ARMY CHIEF GEN AZIZ AHMED
Retired General Aziz Ahmed, who served as army chief under the now-deposed Awami League government, is facing allegations of abusing his position to accumulate illicit wealth in his and his family’s name, and laundering money through hundi and formal banking channels to finance businesses and purchase properties in Malaysia and Singapore.
The ACC formally took up the complaint in September 2024, assigning Deputy Director Zakaria to lead a four-member probe team that includes Deputy Director Ratan Kumar Das, Assistant Director Sajjad Hossain, and Deputy Assistant Director Afia Khatun.
Aziz held the position of army chief from Jun 2018 to Jun 2021, and served as Director General of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) from 2012 to 2016.
Toward the end of his tenure, an Al Jazeera investigative report accused him of corruption, claims which were rejected by both the government and military at the time.
Gen Aziz also denied the allegations. On May 20, 2024, the United States revoked his and his family members’ visas.
An ACC dossier states that Aziz constructed luxury houses, flats, and bungalows worth “hundreds of crores of taka” in Dhaka and other locations.
Properties in his name include “Aziz Residence” in Mirpur DOHS and another house in Nikunja. His brothers, Tofael Ahmed and Joseph, also allegedly own houses and several hundred bighas of land in Dhaka. The ACC intends to investigate them as well.
Attempts to contact Aziz via his WhatsApp number went unanswered.
FORMER AIR FORCE CHIEF SHEIKH ABDUL HANNAN
Air Chief Marshal Sheikh Abdul Hannan, who served as chief of the Bangladesh Air Force from Jun 12, 2021 to Jun 11, 2024, is under investigation over allegations of abuse of power, embezzlement of public funds, bribery, manipulation of recruitment, administrative irregularities, and laundering of misappropriated wealth abroad.
The inquiry, launched on Feb 5, 2025, is being led by ACC Deputy Director Tanzir Sarkar, with Assistant Director Mahmudul Hasan Bhuiyan and Deputy Assistant Director Khairul Hasan also on the team.
The ACC moved to freeze Hannan’s assets and bank accounts on May 6 after receiving information that he was attempting to transfer property. A court subsequently ordered the seizure of several properties and accounts.
Seized assets include a 699.25 sq ft-flat valued at approximately Tk 1.3 million and another 823.83 sq ft unit worth approximately Tk 1.48 million in Dhaka’s Nikunja residential area.
On top of that, a 2,250 sq ft flat in Mirpur DOHS is registered under his wife's name, valued at roughly Tk 3.7 million.
The ACC also seized three plots of land in Rupganj, Narayanganj -- measuring 3.85, 2.42, and 1.57 decimals, respectively-- a seven-storey building under construction in the Mirpur Military Officers’ Residential Project (Mirpur DOHS), and six bank accounts.
One day prior to the asset freeze, the court also imposed an overseas travel ban on Hannan and his family.
bdnews24.com was unable to obtain a comment from Hannan pertaining to the allegations.
FORMER NSI DG TM JOBAER
Major General TM Jobaer, the former director general of the National Security Intelligence (NSI), is being investigated for allegedly accepting large bribes in exchange for jobs, amassing illicit assets through intimidation, and laundering £2.945 million to the UK.
Jobaer was appointed NSI chief in 2018 and held the post for six consecutive years before being returned to army service on Mar 31, 2024.
The ACC launched a formal probe on Sept 1, 2024. The investigation is being led by Deputy Director Md Monjur Alam.
On Apr 21, 2025, a court ordered the freezing of five Trust Bank accounts held by Jobaer containing Tk 2.605 million.
The ACC informed the court that Jobaer and his wife, Fahmina Masud, may have used the accounts to transfer illicit funds, and that immediate action was required to block any further movement of money.
Earlier, on Oct 6, 2024, the court imposed a travel ban on both Jobaer and his wife.
He has not responded to requests for comment.
FORMER RAJUK CHAIRMAN SIDDIQUR RAHMAN SARKAR
Retired major general Md Siddiqur Rahman Sarkar, the recently removed chairman of RAJUK, is under the scanner over allegations of embezzlement and accumulation of illicit assets linked to major projects, including the Purbachal New Town development.
He is accused of abusing his authority to amass illegal wealth in his name and in the names of family members.
The ACC has formed a three-member probe team led by Director Abul Hasnat, with Assistant Director Bishan Ghosh and Deputy Assistant Director Afia Khatun as members.
Siddiqur was appointed RAJUK chairman in April 2024 for a two-year term. However, following the political upheaval of Aug 5, the interim government issued an order on Sept 19 cancelling his appointment, only to reinstate him on Sept 22. His appointment was revoked again in March 2025.
On Apr 17, based on a plea from the ACC, a court barred Siddiqur and his wife, Gazi Rebeca Rowshan, from leaving the country. The ACC warned that the couple appeared to be planning to flee abroad, which could hinder or delay the ongoing investigation.
bdnews24.com was unable to obtain a statement from Siddiqur Rahman regarding the allegations.
FORMER MILITARY SECRETARY SALAHUDDIN MIAJI
Retired major general Salahuddin Miaji served as military secretary to prime minister Sheikh Hasina from 2015 to 2017 and later became a member of parliament after securing an Awami League nomination.
He is facing a raft of allegations including land grabbing, abuse of power, and corruption.
Following his election, Miaji’s relatives were accused of forcibly occupying parts of the Kopotakkho river in Jashore’s Maheshpur to set up unauthorised fish farms.
On the night of Feb 19, 2024, a joint security force arrested him in his private resort in Jashore and handed him over to Jhenaidah police under special protection.
Authorities listed him as a suspect in a case involving arson, looting, and vandalism at the BNP’s district office. He was later sent to jail upon a court order and placed under two-day police remand for interrogation.
On Apr 30, a court granted him bail, citing age, health concerns, and a medical certificate issued by a government hospital.
bdnews24.com was unable to obtain a response from Miaji regarding the allegations.
FORMER DGFI CHIEF HAMIDUL HAQUE
The national graft-busters are investigating retired major general Hamidul Haque, former director general of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), for alleged abuse of power, administrative irregularities, embezzlement, and accumulation of undeclared wealth in his and his family’s names.
The ACC has formed a two-member investigation team, led by Deputy Director Azizul Haque, with Md Mizanur Rahman as the other member.
On Apr 21, 2025, a court imposed a travel ban on Hamidul and his wife, Nusrat Jahan Mukta, based on an ACC petition warning that the couple might attempt to flee the country and disrupt the ongoing inquiry.
Hamidul joined the Bangladesh Army in 1988 and was commissioned into the Infantry Corps in 1990. He most recently served as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 17 Infantry Division in Sylhet and as Area Commander of Sylhet.
Previously, he led the 99 Composite Brigade responsible for Padma Bridge security and commanded the 203 Infantry Brigade in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. He also served as College Secretary and Governing Body Member of the National Defence College.
bdnews24.com could not get a comment from Hamidul.
EX-SSF CHIEF MUJIBUR RAHMAN
The ACC has reportedly uncovered two flats, 10 land plots, and two houses linked to sacked lieutenant general Md Mujibur Rahman, the former chief of the Special Security Force (SSF), alongside his wife, Tasrin Mujib.
Based on findings from the preliminary probe, the commission obtained court orders to seize the properties and freeze 16 of their bank accounts.
The investigation is being led by ACC Deputy Director Mohammad Sirajul Haque, with Assistant Director Ferdous Rahman and Deputy Assistant Director Zulfikar also on the team.
Before his dismissal, Mujibur was the general officer commanding (GOC) of the Army Training and Doctrine Command (ARTDOC).
He previously served as director general of the SSF, the elite force responsible for the security of the president and prime minister, and accompanied ouster premier Hasina on multiple foreign visits.
He was removed from service a month after the Awami League government fell on Aug 5, 2024. The Ministry of Defence formally issued his termination order on Sept 10 that year.
Earlier in his career, Mujibur served as the Quartermaster General at Army Headquarters and held senior roles in the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), where he gained national attention for leading “Operation Thunderbolt” following the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery terror attack.
Since the change of power, Mujibur has gone into hiding. bdnews24.com could not obtain his comments on the allegations.
FORMER MP MASUD UDDIN CHOWDHURY
Masud is accused of corruption in Malaysia’s labour market alongside other ex-officials, including Nizam Uddin Hazari and former IGP Benazir Ahmed. Sixteen cases have been filed, with more probes ongoing.
Deputy Director Mohang Nurul Huda is leading the ACC investigation.
Retired lieutenant general Masud Uddin Chowdhury, a former member of parliament, is accused of corruption in Malaysia’s labour market.
Masud is among several high-profile figures named in the scandal, including former Feni MP Nizam Uddin Hazari, former inspector general of police Benazir Ahmed, and members of a former finance minister’s family.
A total of 16 cases have been filed over illegal business dealings linked to manpower recruitment in Malaysia. Additional allegations are still being investigated.
The ACC has appointed Deputy Director Mohang Nurul Huda to lead the inquiry into Masud Uddin, with Deputy Director Omar Faruk and Assistant Director Minhaj Bin Islam serving on the probe team.
bdnews24.com was unable to obtain a comment from Masud Uddin.
FORMER NTMC CHIEF ZIAUL AHSAN
Former major general Ziaul Ahsan, the ex-director general of the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), has been prosecuted by the ACC in two cases filed in January for allegedly amassing Tk 408.7 million in illegal assets and conducting Tk 3.42 billion in suspicious financial transactions.
According to the ACC, Ziaul, who was dismissed from the army, accumulated Tk 222.7 million in wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income. He also deposited $55,000 in foreign currency accounts in violation of authorised limits.
With the assistance and alleged collusion of his wife, Nusrat Jahan, he moved large sums of money across multiple accounts under different names and entities. The ACC found approximately Tk 1.2 billion in suspicious activity across eight active bank accounts in Ziaul’s name.
The ACC’s probe revealed that Ziaul acquired these assets between 2009 and 2024. Investigators have also traced large sums of money linked to him in banks in the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and the United States.
Commissioned into the army in 1991, Ziaul was a trained commando and paratrooper. As a major, he served as deputy commander of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB)-2 in 2009 and quickly rose to become director of RAB intelligence.
Promoted to colonel, he continued in the RAB and was later elevated to additional director general in 2013.
He was made a brigadier general in 2016 and assigned to the National Security Intelligence (NSI) as a director. A year later, he was appointed director of the NTMC. When the NTMC was upgraded to a directorate-general in 2022, Ziaul remained its head.
Ziaul was relieved of duty on Aug 6, 2024 during a wave of restructuring in the military following the fall of the Awami League government.
His name has since surfaced in allegations of enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and torture at so-called “Aynaghor”, secret detention and torturtes centres associated with the previous regime.
Ziaul was arrested on Aug 16 and remanded in several cases. His name has also appeared in cases before the International Crimes Tribunal related to crimes against humanity.
He is currently in jail.
FORMER BGB CHIEF MD SAFINUL ISLAM
The ACC questioned retired major general Md Safinul Islam and his wife Soma Islam on May 9 over allegations of administrative irregularities, abuse of power, corruption, and illicit enrichment.
The couple did not speak to reporters following their interrogation.
On Apr 23, a court ordered the freezing of 56 bank accounts belonging to the couple, which include savings certificates, fixed deposits, and credit card accounts.
Earlier, on Mar 13, another court order had imposed a travel ban on both.
Their lawyer insisted all assets were lawfully earned and declared in tax filings, denying any wrongdoing.
Safinul led Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) from March 2018 to February 2022.
He has not responded to requests for comment.
