Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh . File Photo

DHAKA, Jan 23, 2025 (BSS) – Former Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Mayor and ex-Lawmaker Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh amassed hundred of crores of taka overnight through illegal means and tried to legalize this amount by writing his name in the fish farmer's account.

Taposh, a members of Sheikh family, showed income of Taka 95 crore 24 lakh, 44 thousand and 31 in only three years from fish farming in pond and water bodies, revealed an ACC investigation.

“After the Awami League government came to power in 2009,  Sheikh Taposh and his family members took advantage of fish farming with the intention of legalizing their ill-gotten money and assets, “ said an official of the anti-graft body preferring anonymity.

The ACC official said they (Taposh and family members) resorted to fraudulence acts while showing themselves as fish farmers in his income tax return.

Taposh and his wife were involved in fisheries sector from 2012-13 to 2014-15 fiscal years. Before and after this, they did not have any fish farming, it said.

Investigation reveals that Sheikh Taposh became a fish farmer overnight by showing the lease of land belonging to residential plot, other agricultural lands and garden categories in Tungipara as a pond in a fake contract.

Sheikh Taposh has been practicing law in the High Court Division as a Barrister since 2001 and as a lawyer in the Appellate Division since 2010. But what he earned from his legal profession, he earned hundreds of times more after becoming a member of parliament belong to the ruling AL as well as DSCC mayor.

Sheikh Taposh, also a nephew of deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was elected members of parliament (MP) of the 9th, 10th and 11th Jatiya Sangsad respectively in 2009, 2014 and 2019.

Serving as the DSCC mayor from 2020, he and his wife Afreen Taposh were shown as a businesswoman, who also showed a huge assets including fish farming, flat, plot owner and bank income in their wealth statement earlier submitted to the ACC, the ACC investigators claimed.

Meanwhile, their two children Sheikh Fazle Naswan and Sheikh Fazle Nawar have assets in their names as businessmen, said another ACC sources, who confirmed the BSS that it has started investigating the immovable and movable assets and cash acquired through corruption and abusing state-power by Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, his wife Afreen Taposh and his other family members.

The investigation found that Tapash has a 10-katha plot on Road 102/A in Sector-1 of Purbachal New City Project, five kathas of land in Madaripur Housing Estate and a five-storied building on five kathas of land in Holding No. 70, Road No. 18 of Block-J in Banani. The estimated value of these properties has been shown to be Taka four crore, 81 lakh 46 thousand and 207.

Taposh, who lives in a flat bought in the name of his wife in capital’s Dhanmondi area, has shown huge amounts of money and assets in his income tax documents as a fisherman in Tungipara, Gopalganj, in addition to owning a bank.

According to income tax records, Sheikh Taposh earned Taka 41 crore, 26 lakh and 525 from fish cultivation in 2012-13 fiscal year, Taka 18 crore, six lakh, one thousand and 259 in the 2013-14 FY and Taka 35 crore, 92 lakh, 42 thousand and 247 in 2014-15 FY.  

However, his total income in the 2006-2007 FY was only Taka 15 lakh, 26 thousand and 181, and in the 2010-11 fiscal year, it was 36 lakh, 60 thousand and 947.

The data review shows that he earned Taka 95 crore, 24 lakh, 44 thousand and 31 in just three years by farming fish in the pond of Tungipara.

However, the ACC investigation found that although there are three ponds in a village house, the income from this fish farming is shown in 11 ponds and 47 acres of land.

Meanwhile, the anti-graft commission’s enquiry team informed the BSS that they found 26 accounts in the Motijheel branch of his established Madhumita Bank and one in the Motijheel branch of Premier Bank.

The ACC officials said Taka 304 crore, 33 lakh, 58 thousand and 528 were deposited in the accounts. Taka 234 crore 82 lakh 66 thousand 750 were withdrawn from there while Taka 539 crore, 16 lakh, 25 thousand and 278 were transacted. However, the current balance in these accounts is Taka 69 crore 50 lakh 91 thousand 774.

In addition, a total of US$ 5 lakh 17 thousand 527 was transacted in favor of Sheikh Taposh bank, Madhumita Bank PLC, Motijheel branch. Currently, the balance in the said account is US $ 9,945.

The investigation team has found that the said amounts of money transactions are not consistent with his known sources of income.

The ACC has found evidence that he deposited these money earned through bribery and corruption in the mentioned different accounts while serving as a member of parliament and DSCC mayor.
 
Sheikh Taposh has shares of Madhumoti Bank, two cars, gold ornaments, and other assets worth Taka one crore. In total, movable assets worth Taka 113 crore 88 lakh 77 thousand 57 taka were found, the investigator mentioned

He added that  26 accounts opened in Motijheel branch have been blocked due to  court’s orders and the current balance after the transaction is US$ 9, 945.

The investigation team has proposed to the authorities that through unusual transactions, he has committed an offense punishable under Section 4(2) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2012 by knowingly transferring and transferring his illegal money obtained through crimes.

It appears that the said transactions were not consistent with his known source of income. That is, he has transacted the money acquired through bribery and corruption in the mentioned accounts in his name.

The accused person was a public representative and while performing the duties entrusted with him, he has acquired illegal assets inconsistent with his income.