MP Badi was accused in over 50 cases, says ACC team OUR CORRESPONDENT COX’S BAZAR: Abdur Rahman Badi, the parliament members from Cox’s Bazar-4 (Ukhia-Teknaf) constituency, has been accused in over 50 cases, disclosed an Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) team during their visit to Cox’s Bazar to investigate alleged illegal wealth accumulation by the MP. Most of these cases were later withdrawn, after labelling these as politically motivated, said ACC deputy director and investigation team member Ahasan Ali on Wednesday. The team conducted preliminary investigations against various allegation of illegal wealth of the Cox’s Bazar MP. The ACC, during a meeting on January 12, formed the investigation team for probe alleged illegal wealth accumulation of seven former and ruling minister and MP’s, including Abdur Rahman Badi. The ACC began its investigation against the lawmaker after Badi submitted a wealth statement to the Election Commission prior to the January 5 national polls that showed his wealth increase by 351 per cent over the course of five years. The team seized the copy of the lawmaker’s affidavit from the district commissioner’s office on Tuesday. The ACC team also seized the income tax statements of Badi and his first wife from the Cox’s Bazar Income Tax office on Wednesday. The investigation team led by ACC Deputy Director Ahasan Ali visited Ukhia and Teknaf and many other places of district and met a number of people. The team also talked with several officials of the district and upazila administration to collect information about the actual wealth of the ruling party lawmaker. According to the affidavit submitted to the EC, the wealth of Abdur Rahman Badi has seen an almost 20 times increase in 5 years. Badi wrote in the statement that he earned BD Tk 36 crore 96 lakhs 99 thousand 40 during the last five years. MP Badi also wrote, he earned this money by export-import and fuel business and trading with Myanmer through Teknaf land port in the last five years. A number of businessmen in Teknaf, on condition of anonymity, said that MP Badi was never engaged in import-export and fuel oil businesses. They said that others run these businesses and deposit tax in name of Badi. They said that the lawmaker’s father Ezahar Company owned a fuel oil shop at Lama Bazar area named Messrs Rahman and Sons. The shop was closed down after the death of Badi’s father. No oil was imported or sold commercially during last few years against that license, they claimed. Sources also claimed that information was given to the ACC team about MP Badi receiving a part of the income from extortion on import items and proceeds of ticket sale to Saint Martin tourists. Badi also earns a part of the shrimp imports from Myanmar, they said. A separate source said that the ACC was informed about half a dozen jewelry shops in Lama Bazar which were allegedly owned by Badi. These shops have a large stockpile of gold, they alleged. The sources said that the people in these shops are all workers and the real owner of these shops are Badi. They also alleged that a man named Mong Master supervises these shops on behalf of Badi. Locals alleged to the ACC team that MP Badi mismanaged government funds while distributing rice and other essentials to people of Teknaf and Ukhia. They also alleged that the lawmaker has deposited money and bought vast areas of land in names of his relatives. Locals also claimed that the MP owns a number of shops in Dubai which are run by three sons of Sona Ali of Shah Porir Dwip. When the ACC probe team was asked about these information, ACC depurty director Ahsan Ali said that many people including politicians and common folk are providing various information about alleged illegal wealth of the lawmaker. The ACC official said that these information are yet to be verified and that these cannot be disclosed now in the interest of investigation. When lawmaker Abdur Rahman Badi was contacted over telephone by our correspondent, the ruling party MP said that journalists are publishing news without properly verifying information. HE said that his earnings come from salt trade, import-export and house rent. He said that his income tax records have been updated and there are no discrepancies. MP Badi alleged that some people are claiming others wealth as his own. He also said that it is not possible to give details without first looking at documents. The lawmaker said that people are making false allegations and spreading lies against him as they are jealous of his success. He also said that if the ACC finds any illegal wealth, he will accept any punishment from the authorities. Abdur Rahman Badi also urged an impartial probe into all the allegations against him.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 09:41:31 +0000
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