A formal criminal investigation has been launched by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against an Executive Engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) following the sensational discovery of millions in unexplained cash. The case centres on an incident occurring in March last year, where authorities intercepted a private vehicle and uncovered nearly 3.7 million BDT stashed within the rear compartment. The engineer, Mohammad Sabiul Islam, reportedly failed to provide any credible documentation or a legal justification for possessing such a vast sum of liquid assets during the police search.
The ACC Assistant Director, Mohammad Ismail Hossain, acting as the plaintiff, filed the lawsuit this Monday at the commission’s integrated district office in Rajshahi. The legal proceedings do not focus solely on the engineer; two other individuals, identified as Bappi Kumar Das and his son Rintu Kumar Das, have also been indicted as accomplices. These co-defendants are accused of aiding Sabiul Islam in the illicit transportation and concealment of funds that the commission believes were acquired through systematic corruption and the abuse of administrative power.
The origin of the scandal dates back to 14 March 2023, when police conducted a search of a hired car in the Singra Upazila of Natore. Hidden beneath the floor of the boot was the sum of 3,694,300 BDT in cash. Following the seizure, the ACC initiated an inquiry which concluded that the money was entirely inconsistent with Sabiul Islam’s known legal income. The commission’s report alleges that the engineer was attempting to move the funds to mask their illegal source and ownership. Sabiul Islam, who was formerly stationed in Gaibandha and is currently attached to the LGED headquarters in Agargaon, has reportedly been the subject of several long-standing allegations regarding financial irregularities.
Particulars of the Asset Seizure and Indictment
| Category | Details of the Investigation |
| Principal Suspect | Mohammad Sabiul Islam (LGED Executive Engineer) |
| Cash Amount Recovered | 3,694,300 BDT |
| Seizure Location | Singra, Natore District |
| Incident Date | 14 March 2023 |
| Statutory Charges | Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012 (Sections 4/2 & 4/3) |
| Co-Accused | Bappi Kumar Das and Rintu Kumar Das |
The charges filed under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012, carry stringent penalties, reflecting the government’s current drive to purge institutional graft. Prosecutors argue that the act of transporting such a large volume of cash in a concealed manner constitutes a clear intent to launder proceeds of crime. As the case moves into the formal investigation phase, the ACC is preparing to summon the accused for intensive questioning and is in the process of auditing the engineer’s career-long financial records to identify any further discrepancies.