The Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday decided to launch inquiries into allegations against former state minister for primary and mass education Zakir Hossain of amassing wealth by giving approvals to 26 schools in his district Kurgram illegally.
The graft watchdog initiated the move against Zakir and also three former lawmakers of the now deposed Awami League government over allegations of amassing illegal wealth.
The three former lawmakers are Mohammad Habib Hasan (Dhaka-18), Md Nurul Islam Talukder (Bogura-3), and Mohammad Abdul Wadud (Chapainawabganj-3).
The commission took the decisions to run the inquiries following information of irregularities and corruption against them, said its director general for administration Md Shahriag.
According to the allegations, former state minister Zakir Hossain, also a former lawmaker of Kurigram-4 constituency, made a huge amount of illegal wealth, including his movable and immovable assets worth Tk 5.18 crore.
A major allegation against constitutes that he brought 26 schools under the child welfare trust in Kurigram illegally through abuse of his power as state minister for primary and mass education.
Anti-corruption commission鈥檚 intelligence unit in its primary probe found information of his illegal wealth in home and abroad, said officials.
Former lawmaker of Dhaka-18 Habib Hasan and his family members amassed massive illegal wealth at home and abroad, according to the allegations.
The commission in its investigation found that Habib purchased a house in his son Abir Hasan Tanim鈥檚 name at so-called Begum Para in Canada the value of which is worth 15.50 lakh Canadian dollars.聽
According to the allegations, former lawmaker of Bogura-3, Md Nurul Islam Talukder, embezzled money from different government projects and amassed a illegal wealth at home and abroad.
Mohammad Abdul Wadud, a former lawmaker of Chapainawabganj-3, and his family members amassed illegal wealth at home and abroad through corruption, irregularities, and abuse of power, said anti-corruption officials.
Since the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, the anti-corruption commission has initiated inquiries against around 100 former ministers, state ministers, and lawmakers over allegations of amassing illegal wealth through corruption.