Sirajul Islam Shishir

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has finally lodged two separate cases against the controversial former Parliament Member (MP) of Sirajganj-2 (Sadar-Kamarkhand) constituency Jannat Ara Talukder Henry and her husband former Sirajganj Zilla Parishad Chairman Shamim Talukder Labu for amassing mountain like illegal wealth during the Awami League regime abusing their power.

On Monday (December 23) afternoon, Assistant Director of ACC Head Office Asif Al-Mahmud and Shah Alam Sheikh filed the two separate cases on charges of acquiring assets outside the known sources of income and concealing information to the concerned law enforcers about their illegal wealth.

Deputy Assistant Director of ACC Dhaka Office-1 Md. Zakir Hossain confirmed the matter to the journalists through a press release issued on the same day.

Earlier on November 25, a court in Dhaka on the basis of ACC’s application imposed travel ban on Jannat Ara Talukder Henry, her husband Shamim Talukder Labu and daughter Muntaha Ridhy Lam directing not to leave the country.

Earlier this, ACC started investigation against the duo on August 20. After an investigation, ACC found evidences of illegal wealth amassing, money siphoning and unusual bank transactions against the couple.

According to the ACC sources, about one and half decade ago, the former MP Henry had an annual income of only Tk 1.22 lakh and an expenditure of Tk 80,000.

At that time, she had assets of only Tk 6,34,500. But now, the measure of her assets has increased to Tk 56,8,95,602 wondering the country men. The market value of her assets is now about Tk3 billion.

In the last 15 years since 2008, Henry’s assets have increased 884 times. At the same time, the assets of her husband Shamim Talukder Labu have incredibly increased 136 times.

The sources also revealed that, Henry and her husband own 16 houses, two resorts, a cattle farm and several thousand decimals of agricultural and non-agricultural lands in and outside of Sirajganj.

Henry owns at least nine luxury cars. She has a flat and land in Mirpur of the capital city Dhaka.

Henry, who was elected from the Sirajganj-2 constituency in the last 12th National Parliament election, has over 100 Bhori of gold.

The controversial woman is still containing the charge as Joint General Secretary for Sirajganj District Awami League.

There are massive allegations that, the Awami League female leader Henry accumulated the huge amount of illegal assets by exerting political influence.

Locals said, about 15 years ago, she was a mere school teacher. She was also defeated in the polls in 2008 due to her controversial role in the political arena. After a span of time, Henry was appointed as a member of the board of directors of Sonali Bank in 2009 with the blessings of late HT Imam, also former Political Advisor to the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

During her tenure, the incident of controversial Hallmark loan scam was occurred. In that incident, allegations of bribery were made against some members of the board of directors. But, she was behind the screen. She however got rid considering as a female and beautiful leader of Sirajganj District Awami League on the blessing of some influential of the government.

Tanvir Ahmed, Managing Director of Hallmark Group, also the mastermind of the loan fraud in his confessional statement under Section 164 also said that, “Some persons had taken bribes from him against the loan fraud.

Later, the ACC filed a case and submitted charge sheet against Tanvir and some other bank officials. But, the independent organization did not take any action against any member of the board of directors at that time due to unknown reasons. They (dirctors) got acquitted from the charge. Like others, the ACC also acquitted Henry.

Currently, there are three murder and an arm cases in Sirajganj Sadar Police Station against the couple. Henry and her husband Shamim Talukder Labu have been laid in jail by the RAB forces after arresting from Moulvibazar on October 1 last.

Md. Shahidul Islam Sarkar, Deputy Director of the Pabna Integrated District Office of ACC, told ‘The Daily Sky’ that, ‘Initial evidences have been found against Jannat Ara Talukder Henry and her husband Labu over amassing illegal wealth through undeclared income, bribery and corruption. For this reason, two separate cases have been lodged so far against the duo with the aim to bring them under trial.