ACC orders journalists Shakil Ahmed, Farzana Rupa to submit wealth statements
The couple, who are currently in separate jails in connection with separate cases, have been given 21 working days to submit the statements.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has ordered journalists Shakil Ahmed and his wife Farzana Rupa to separately submit statements of their assets within 21 working days.
ACC Deputy Director and Public Relations Officer Aktarul Islam confirmed the matter today (23 August).
According to ACC documents, Shakil Ahmed is a journalist at Ekattor Television, while his wife Farzana Rupa also works as a journalist at the same organisation.
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The ACC said its investigation has led to a "firm belief" that the couple possess substantial assets in their own names or under other names beyond their known sources of income.
Under Section 26(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004, the ACC has ordered them to submit detailed statements of their movable and immovable assets, liabilities, sources of income and assets held in their own names, those of their spouses and dependants, whether directly or indirectly.
They have been instructed to submit the information using prescribed forms within 21 working days of receiving the orders.
The ACC assigned wealth statement Form No. 007213 to Shakil Ahmed and Form No. 007214 to Farzana Rupa.
ACC Constable Md Jewel Mia was unable to deliver the orders and forms to their respective addresses, according to the documents.
The ACC later learned that Shakil Ahmed is being held at Kashimpur High Security Central Jail in Gazipur after being arrested in a case filed with Tejgaon Police Station, while Farzana Rupa is in Munshiganj District Jail after being arrested in a case filed with Jatrabari Police Station.
The ACC has therefore sought approval to serve the order issued against Shakil through the senior jail superintendent of Kashimpur High Security Central Jail and the order against Rupa through the jail superintendent of Munshiganj District Jail.
The documents said failure to submit the wealth statements within the stipulated period, or submission of false statements, would result in action under Section 26(2) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004.
