The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) found no safe deposit lockers under the names of 25 Bangladesh Bank officials during an inspection drive at the central bank today (9 February).
ACC Director Kazi Sayemuzzaman confirmed the development while talking to reporters this afternoon after the inspection at the central bank headquarters in the capital’s Motijheel.
He said the search was conducted based on complaints from other Bangladesh Bank officials. “There are no lockers under the names of the 25 individuals mentioned in the complaints.”
Sayemuzzaman, however, said that further raids are planned, pending court approval, as allegations exist against numerous other individuals, both current and former central bank officials stationed in various regions, including Dhaka, Khulna, and Barishal.
He added that they had found 272 safe deposit lockers belonging to these officials.
Earlier, an eight-member ACC team, led by Sayemuzzaman, entered the central bank at around 12:30pm with the list of the 25 officials to carry out the inspection, following court authorisation.
At the time, ACC Director General Akhtar Hossain had said, “Our team believes that the lockers may contain undisclosed wealth, foreign currency, and gold ornaments. There are approximately 300 lockers there.
“They will do as much as possible today, and if necessary, the operation may continue for another day or two. Further details will be provided after today’s raid is completed.”
Today’s inspection followed a 26 January raid on the locker of former central bank deputy governor SK Sur Chowdhury. In it, the ACC team discovered assets worth approximately Tk5 crore, which are now in the central bank’s custody. Â
During that raid, the ACC identified more lockers belonging to central bank officials, raising suspicions that individuals under investigation for corruption might still be using them.
Consequently, on 2 February, the ACC requested the central bank governor to freeze the lockers in question. Since then, access to these lockers at the Bangladesh Bank headquarters has been restricted.
Sources said the ACC investigation team plans to raid the lockers of at least 25 more central bank officials based on existing information.
Earlier, sources said that high-ranking Bangladesh Bank officials had stored wealth and valuable documents of their various properties in 300 secured lockers, which the anti-graft watchdog believes they gained illegally.
The ACC recently obtained court approval to open these lockers as they suspect significant assets are being stored within, according to sources. It also plans to initiate investigations if any irregularities are found with these lockers.