The New Nation - Internet Edition

Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) here on Sunday sued Rajshahi City Corporation mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu and his wife Salma Shahadat for 'illegally' accumulating wealth worth over Tk. 3.07 crore.

The anti-graft watchdog also charged them of concealing information of their wealth worth Tk. 2.9 crore in their wealth statements. M Monirul Haque, deputy director of Rajshahi ACC lodged the case with Boalia Model police station last evening. The plaintiff alleged, Minu himself accumulated 'illegal wealth' of Tk 2,26,79,602 and concealed Tk 1,91,80,391 in his wealth statement.

Minu mentioned his earnings of Tk 62,95,368 from salaries and remunerations during his mayorship from May 1991 and May 2007, but showed wealth and properties worth Tk 99,66,849, including some Tk 34,99,211 earned by 'illegal means'.

On investigation, ACC found out Minu's secret investment of Tk 1.80 crore in the name of businessman Bairul Islam for Jamuna Seeds Storage Private Limited.

Lutfar Rahman, Minu's business partner and former president of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industries in a judicial confession in August stated that Minu used to run the businesses under fake names.

It was also alleged in the case that Minu concealed Tk 1,93,916 of repair charges for his inherited home in the city.

Minu on March 2007 paid off Tk 9,35,725 as income tax, but he did not furnish his income and spending in detail in his wealth statement.

Minu also did not mention his 17 decimal landed properties at Rajshahi BISCIC Estate and Tk 26,250 investment on the land's lease. He did not showed his policy premium of Tk 24,500 with Sunflower Life Insurance Co Ltd in Dhaka.

Minu in his wealth statement showed income of his wife Salma, a college lecturer, amounting to Tk 11,60,382, but mentioned her earned wealth as Tk 85,20,493 which meant that her 'illegally accumulated' money stood to be Tk 71,10,110.

Besides, she concealed Tk 3,40,611 of spending on their three-storied building at Padma Residential area, Tk 10,000 share of Al Arafa Islami Bank, and Tk 1,59,000 on furniture and electronic goods in their houses.