The story of Aladdin’s magic lamp tells us that a simple rub could reveal hidden treasure. In real life, however, no magic lamp appears to have been necessary for Mohammad Atiquzzaman, a promoted Assistant Commissioner at the Customs Valuation and Internal Audit Commissionerate in Dhaka, to allegedly accumulate substantial wealth while serving in a key government position.
According to information obtained during an investigation, Atiquzzaman began his career as an Assistant Revenue Officer and was later promoted to Assistant Commissioner. Allegations have surfaced that he and members of his family accumulated significant immovable assets through abuse of official position and irregularities at different stages of his career.
Information gathered from documents and other relevant records indicates that Atiquzzaman and his family members may own approximately 440 decimals, or 4.4 acres, of land in Dhaka and other parts of the country, along with several flats and other structures. The current market value of these assets is estimated by concerned sources to be between Tk 250 million and Tk 350 million, or potentially higher. However, the actual value of the properties would require verification against official records and prevailing market prices.
Mohammad Atiquzzaman, born on April 1, 1973, is a resident of the Kalapara area of Nakla upazila in Sherpur district. Information obtained during the investigation indicates that properties in Dhaka and elsewhere are registered in his name as well as in the name of his wife, Mst. Ashrafunnahar.
According to the information available, a flat and 37 decimals of land in the Vatara Mouza of Bashundhara Residential Area, a 1,100-square-foot flat with an ownership share in 91 decimals of land at Plot No. E/11 in the Banasree Project, and another 1,300-square-foot flat with an ownership share in 60 decimals of land on Ulon Road in Rampura are among the properties reportedly linked to him and his family.
The investigation also found information about two separate flats in the Ramchandrapur Mouza of Mohammadpur, reportedly associated with ownership shares in 111 and 50 decimals of land respectively. Other reported assets include a house built on approximately 3.5 decimals of land in Uttar Meradia, Khilgaon; 11 tin-shed rooms constructed on 5.5 decimals of land in Matuail, Jatrabari; and an eight-decimal project property in Barakakora, Savar.
Outside Dhaka, information has been found regarding 277 decimals and another 3.5 decimals of land in the Kalapara Mouza of Nakla, Sherpur, along with 7.5 decimals in Bazaradi and 40 decimals in Kayda Mouza. In addition, records indicate ownership of approximately 112 decimals of agricultural and non-agricultural land in Muktagachha, Mymensingh.
Atiquzzaman is currently serving at the Customs Valuation and Internal Audit Commissionerate in Dhaka. The office is responsible, among other things, for determining the customs value of imported goods, preventing under-invoicing and conducting audits of importers.
Complainants allege that the nature of such responsibilities may create opportunities to influence valuation, audit findings and customs-related decisions, and that these opportunities may have been misused to accumulate wealth. However, the allegations cannot be established without an independent and impartial investigation.
The investigation further found that some of the properties are registered in the name of his wife, Mst. Ashrafunnahar. Questions have therefore been raised about the source of funds used to acquire these properties, particularly where there is no clear information about an independent and substantial source of income. The matter, however, requires verification through financial records and relevant documents.
When contacted about the allegations, Mohammad Atiquzzaman cited his illness and assured that he would speak later. He said that he has been suffering from cancer for a long time and that all of his assets have been disclosed in his income-tax documents.
Several National Board of Revenue officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that if the information regarding the alleged assets is found to be accurate, their source and legality should be thoroughly examined. They also said that the relevant declarations of assets by government employees, permissions related to the acquisition of immovable property and associated financial records should be scrutinised.
Against this backdrop, demands have emerged for a comprehensive review of Atiquzzaman’s and his family’s assets, including their sources of funds, income-tax records, property deeds and financial transactions.
Ultimately, an independent and impartial investigation by the competent authorities would be necessary to determine whether the allegations are substantiated and whether the reported assets were acquired through legitimate sources of income.