Anti-Corruption Commission has filed a case against former Sylhet City Corporation mayor and Awami League leader Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, accusing him of amassing illegal wealth and concealing information about multiple properties, including assets in London.
ACC Sylhet Deputy Director Rafi Md Nazmus Sadat confirmed the filing on late Monday, saying the case had been lodged as Anwaruzzaman failed to submit his wealth statement within the stipulated time and did not apply for an extension.
The case was filed on Sunday at the ACC’s Sylhet integrated district office by Assistant Director Asaduzzaman of the commission’s Money Laundering-1 unit at the ACC headquarters.
“Based on the commission’s approval, the responsible officer filed a non-submission case. The investigation will now proceed as per procedure,” he said.
According to the case statement, Anwaruzzaman served as Sylhet mayor for about eight months from November 2023. Before that, he was a director at IFIC Bank PLC from 2011 to 2021.
During the inquiry, ACC officials reviewed his electoral affidavit submitted to the Election Commission and found that he had concealed information about two properties in London, a 4,000 sq ft house and an 1,800 sq ft flat. He also failed to declare a five-katha RAJUK plot in Purbachal.
The case statement further notes that Anwaruzzaman declared total assets of Tk84,44,098 in his income tax returns for the financial years 2022–2025, but investigators found no acceptable documentation explaining how the wealth was acquired.
While the ACC considered his family expenditure of Tk13,25,000 and Tk10,53,000 received as salary and allowances during his mayoral tenure to be acceptable, the commission estimates his net unexplained wealth at Tk93,44,098, which they suspect to be illegally accumulated.
ACC officials also said that when they went to serve the wealth disclosure notice, they found his residence locked. As per procedure, the notice form was affixed to the gate in the presence of witnesses.
Locals told ACC officials that Anwaruzzaman no longer lives at the listed address and that his permanent residence and business operations are now based in London.
The ACC has begun its investigation, and further action will be taken upon completion of the inquiry, officials said.
