DHAKA, Mar 03 (V7N) — The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has seized Tk 10,310 crore worth of assets in the country and Tk 165 crore abroad in the past six months, intensifying its crackdown on corruption following the change of government.

ACC Director General (Prevention) Md. Akhter Hossain revealed the details during a regular briefing on Monday afternoon, highlighting major figures and businesses targeted in the latest anti-corruption drive.

The ACC seized assets belonging to former ministers Anisul Haque and Junaid Ahmed Palak, both influential figures in the previous government.

Major conglomerates, S Alam Group and Bashundhara Group, accused of large-scale financial irregularities, have also had their domestic and overseas assets frozen.

In total, 74 court orders have been issued to seize these assets, reflecting an aggressive legal push against corruption. In addition to asset seizures, the ACC has launched new corruption cases:

Ex-Khulna-6 MP Md. Akhtaruzzaman was charged with illegally acquiring Tk 3.5 crore worth of assets. Investigators found that while his total assets amounted to Tk 13.47 crore, only Tk 3.47 crore was legally accounted for.

Cases have been filed against a former Home Ministry official, a DIG, and a PRO, though further details are yet to be disclosed. Former Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) councilor Akash Kumar Bhowmik and his wife are also facing corruption charges.

While the ACC is aggressively pursuing foreign asset seizures, former ACC Director General Moidul Islam has raised concerns about whether these efforts are being effectively implemented. He called for closer monitoring to ensure foreign jurisdictions comply with asset recovery requests.

The ACC successfully recovered Tk 2.42 crore from the residence of a former DGFI chief, marking another significant step in the crackdown.

The ACC's ongoing investigations signal a serious effort to dismantle corruption networks within politics and the corporate sector. However, questions remain about how effectively foreign assets can be reclaimed and whether the momentum of these efforts will be sustained over time.

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