The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed two separate cases against former Mollahat Upazila Parishad chairman Shahinul Alam Chana, 69, and his wife, Jharna Alam, 62, for allegedly acquiring assets beyond their known sources of income and submitting false wealth statements.
The cases were filed on Tuesday evening at the ACC Bagerhat District Office by Samiran Kumar Mondal, deputy assistant director of the commission. Both were charged under Sections 26(2) and 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004.
According to ACC, an inquiry into the couple’s assets began in 2022 after initial evidence of wealth disproportionate to their known income was found. They were subsequently asked to submit wealth statements on 18 March 2025.
Chana, general secretary of the Mollahat upazila unit of the Bangladesh Awami League, whose activities are currently banned, declared assets worth Tk5,37,77,579, while his wife declared Tk62,44,000.
However, the ACC inquiry found that Chana owned assets worth Tk10,80,28,112, including immovable assets worth Tk3,21,00,017 and movable assets worth Tk7,59,28,095. After accounting for liabilities of Tk1,96,02,734, his net wealth stood at Tk8,80,28,112.
The ACC accused him of concealing assets worth Tk3,46,47,799 and acquiring Tk3,39,58,486 beyond his known sources of income. The alleged period of the offence runs from 2007 to 18 March 2025.
In the case against Jharna Alam, the ACC found assets worth Tk4,20,31,258 registered in her name, against her declared amount of Tk62,44,000. She allegedly concealed assets worth Tk3,88,79,694.
Although she reported income of Tk10,65,000 from shop rentals and agriculture, investigators found assets worth Tk4,37,50,694 beyond her known sources of income, representing 96.89 per cent of her total wealth. The alleged period of the offence runs from 2014 to 18 March 2025.
Attempts to contact Chana by mobile phone were unsuccessful, as his handset was switched off.
ACC Deputy Assistant Director Samiran Kumar Mondal said investigations into both cases were under way. He added that anyone else found involved would also face legal action.
He confirmed that both accused were absconding and that efforts to arrest them were ongoing.
