The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed two separate cases against Sheikh Afil Uddin, former lawmaker for the Jashore-1 constituency, and his wife, Mosammat Tahera Sobhan, for allegedly acquiring assets worth Tk62.31 crore beyond their known sources of income.
In addition to the lawsuits, the commission has issued notices to the couple’s three sons – Sheikh Kutub Uddin, Sheikh Tamim Uddin, and Sheikh Afnan Uddin – directing them to submit their wealth statements.
Syed Maidul Islam, deputy assistant director of the ACC, filed the cases as the plaintiff at the ACC District Office, Dhaka-1, on Sunday. The filing was confirmed by ACC Director General Md Aktar Hossain.
Sheikh Afil Uddin is the elder brother of Sheikh Bashir Uddin, a former adviser to the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Textiles and Jute in the interim government. They are the sons of the late renowned industrialist Sheikh Akij Uddin.
Wealth details of Sheikh Afil, wife
According to the case documents, the couple collectively accumulated Tk62.31 crore in wealth that does not align with their legal income. Specifically, Sheikh Afil Uddin is accused of amassing Tk46.26 crore illegally, while his wife faces charges for Tk16.05 crore in unexplained wealth.
Investigations into Sheikh Afil’s finances revealed total assets worth Tk45.43 crore, consisting of Tk1.48 crore in immovable property and Tk43.95 crore in movable property. When including his calculated expenditures of Tk8.44 crore, his total wealth stands at Tk53.87 crore.
Against this, the ACC found valid income sources amounting to only Tk7.61 crore, leaving a discrepancy of over Tk46.26 crore. He has been charged under Section 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004.
Similarly, Mosammat Tahera Sobhan was found to possess assets worth Tk18.56 crore. Including her expenditures of Tk67.75 lakh, her total wealth reaches Tk19.23 crore.
With a proven legal income of Tk3.18 crore, the ACC identified Tk16.05 crore as being beyond her known sources of income. She has also been sued under Section 27(1) of the same Act.
Notices to the couple’s sons
The ACC has further extended its probe to the couple’s children, citing significant wealth information found in their names.
Sheikh Kutub Uddin was found with assets worth Tk3.55 crore against a legal income of Tk1.39 crore, showing a discrepancy of Tk2.16 crore. Sheikh Tamim Uddin possesses total assets (including expenses) of Tk6.92 crore, with a valid income of Tk4.95 crore, leaving Tk1.97 crore unexplained.
Regarding Sheikh Afnan Uddin, while no immovable property was found, he holds movable assets worth Tk1.88 crore. Including expenses, his total wealth is Tk2 crore against a legal income of Tk1.29 crore, indicating Tk70.74 lakh in inconsistent wealth.
The three sons have been served notices under Section 26(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, to submit formal wealth descriptions.
