Government Initiates Legal Action over Alleged Embezzlement of Tk 4.71 crore During Land Acquisition for MRT Line-1 Project
Land Acquisition Fraud Uncovered in Dhaka MRT Project
A significant land acquisition fraud has been uncovered in the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-1), with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh filing a criminal case against Md Riaz Uddin, a resident of Lalbagh, Dhaka.
Md Riaz Uddin, age 57 and son of Haji Meraj, is accused of embezzling approximately Tk 4.71 crore from the government treasury. The ACC’s investigations revealed that the fraud involved manipulation and corruption related to acquiring land parcels meant for the rapid transit project.
According to the ACC, the land in question was previously mortgaged to Sonali Bank. The mortgage deed for the land is still legally valid, yet Md Riaz Uddin is alleged to have embezzled the funds by falsely claiming compensation for land acquisition.
To carry out the fraud, Md Riaz Uddin filed five general diaries (GDs) at Rupganj Police Station, reporting the loss of original land documents. He then obtained certified copies from the sub-registry office and submitted these as proof to collect compensation funds from the government.
The fraudulent activity took place at Pitalganj Mouza, Rupganj upazila, Narayanganj. The case against Md Riaz Uddin is being filed under Sections 406, 420, 467, 468, and 471 of the Penal Code.
The disclosure of this case was made on 31 July by Akhtarul Islam, deputy director of ACC. The ACC has initiated a criminal case against Md Riaz Uddin, and formal approval to file the case has been granted by the ACC's head office, dated 31 July.
This case highlights the ongoing efforts of the Anti-Corruption Commission to combat fraud and corruption in public infrastructure projects, ensuring that funds are used for their intended purposes and that the public's trust in such projects is maintained.
In connection to the land acquisition fraud uncovered in the Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Line-1), it is alleged that Md Riaz Uddin, the accused, not only embezzled public funds, but also manipulated financial aspects related to the acquisition of land parcels within the industry sector. The ACC's investigation revealed that these manipulations involved acquiring land, which previously had a mortgage with Sonali Bank.
