ACC finds suspicious bank transactions linked to Benazir

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has identified suspicious transactions in 116 bank accounts held by former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed and his family members.
The anti-graft body mentioned these findings in a report submitted to a High Court (HC) bench comprising Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Kazi Ebadoth Hossain.
ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan submitted the report on behalf of the commission on Sunday. He said the HC may hear the case on Monday.
According to the report, the ACC has sent letters to at least 46 government agencies to gather documents for its investigation into allegations against Benazir and his family.
After examining the documents, the ACC found that Benazir and his family members -- wife Jissan Mirza and daughters Farheen Rishta Binte Benazir, Tahsin Raisa Binte Benazir and Zahra Zareen Binte Benazir -- own property in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gopalganj, Madaripur, Gazipur, Cox's Bazar and Khulna.
The report also details evidence of suspicious transactions involving millions of taka across the 116 bank accounts operated by the family.
On 23 April this year, Benazir withdrew Tk 30.3 million from Community Bank's Corporate Branch in Dhaka.
His wife Jissan Mirza withdrew Tk 33.27 million on 23 and 24 April from the same bank. Their daughter Farheen withdrew Tk 1.67 million on 29 April from the same bank.
The family withdrew Tk 30 million on 29 April and Tk 30 million on 30 April from a current account at Sonali Bank's local office branch in Dhaka. A further Tk 1.4 million was withdrawn from another current account at the same bank on 30 April.
Khurshid Alam Khan said, "ACC has found evidence of suspicious transactions and wealth accumulation beyond known income sources by former IGP Benazir Ahmed and his family members. ACC is conducting an inquiry into the matter, which is in its final stages."
Following a writ petition, the High Court on 23 April this year ordered the ACC to submit a progress report on its inquiry into allegations that Benazir Ahmed amassed large amounts of wealth through undisclosed sources.
The anti-graft body was instructed to submit the report, if any, within two months.
Supreme Court lawyer Md Salah Uddin filed the writ petition with the HC, challenging the ACC's inaction against Benazir.
Barrister M Sarwar Hossain represented the writ petitioner in court, while Senior Advocates Shah Monjurul Hoque and Sayed Ahmed Raza appeared for the former IGP. Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan represented the ACC.
Writ petitioner's lawyer M Sarwar Hossain said, "We have been notified that the ACC has already formed a body to inquire about the allegations. However, we have concerns given previous cases where the ACC has cleared 10,000 people. That is why we seek judicial oversight of the ACC's actions in this matter."
ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan said the allegations against Benazir were serious and the commission had approved an investigation on 18 April.
He informed the court that the ACC had formed a three-member committee to investigate the allegations.

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