The recent disclosure of former Inspector General Benazir Ahmed's enormous wealth has sparked questions about how a person could build such assets on a modest government salary.

Asaduzzaman Mia, Benazir's replacement as Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner, is not far behind in becoming unnaturally wealthy with a similar "declared" income, an investigation of Bangla Outlook found out.

Documents obtained so far revealed that Asaduzzaman, his wife, and three children have over Tk 237 crore worth of properties across Bangladesh in their names.

Besides immediate family members, Asaduzzaman also allegedly made properties in the name of his brother-in-law, cousin, and a trusted caretaker in his village home. The conservative valuation of those properties crosses at least Tk 6 crore.

After Benazir's wealth was exposed, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) stressed that when powerful officials like him abuse their positions without consequences, they become “uncontrollable threats to society and erode the government's responsibility to the people.”

The anti-graft watchdog called for the release of names of all corrupt individuals and accountability for all involved to demonstrate the “government’s commitment to zero tolerance against corruption.”

Asaduzzaman, the longest-serving DMP commissioner in history, held the position for nearly five years. After retiring in 2019, he served as the chief executive officer of the National Security Affairs Cell under the Cabinet Division for another three years.

Asaduzzaman served as the DMP chief during two significant events: the terrorist attack at the Holey Artisan Bakery in Gulshan and the controversial 2018 election, often pejoratively dubbed as the "midnight election" due to allegations of widespread rigging.

One of the most-decorated officers, Asaduzzaman has been honored twice with the Bangladesh Police Medal (Bravery) in 2017 and 2019, and twice with the President's Police Medal (Bravery).

Wealth of Asaduzzaman and family

The Bangla Outlook investigation has uncovered that Asaduzzaman has accumulated significant wealth not only in his own name but also in the names of his wife, Afroza Zaman, and their three children, Asif Shahadat, Ayesha Siddika, and Asif Mahdeen.

The Asaduzzaman family's extensive real estate holdings encompass properties in Gazipur, Narayanganj, areas along the Bhanga highway, and various locations within the capital, including Bashundhara, Aftabnagar, Mohammadpur, Joar Sahara, Savar, and Purbachal.

Documents reveal that Asaduzzaman owns a 7.5 katha government plot in Purbachal valued at over Tk 8 crore. He also possesses a 6 katha plot in Aftabnagar and a 6.9 katha plot within the Police Officers Housing Society, each estimated to be worth at least Tk 7.5 crore.

The former DMP chief additionally owns a 2,000 square foot flat in Savar, valued at approximately Tk 2 crore, and two plots of land in Rupganj with a combined value of nearly Tk 9 crore.

Furthermore, Asaduzzaman claims to have received 322 decimals of land as a gift from his sisters. He also asserts that he received an additional 68 and 215 decimals of land as gifts from his sisters on November 3, 2011, and October 31, 2013, respectively.

The tax filings of his sisters, a copy of which is obtained by Bangla Outlook, however, indicate that Asaduzzaman’s sisters were not in a financial position to give him such “expensive” gifts.

Mirroring the actions of Benazir, who acquired properties worth hundreds of crores in the name of his wife, Asaduzzaman too allegedly accumulated huge assets registered under his wife Afroza Zaman.

Documentation reveals that his wife, Afroza, a housewife with no known employment or business history, has properties worth at least Tk 113 crore.

Afroza owns a luxurious six-story house on a 10-katha plot in the affluent Bashundhara Residential Area, valued at over Tk 50 crore.

Furthermore, she owns a flat at 69 (B/2/5) on road number 13/A in the Eskaton Garden and Dhanmondi 12/A areas of Dhaka.

In 2018, in a potential violation of RAJUK regulations, which stipulate that both spouses cannot be granted plots concurrently, Afroza was allocated a 10-katha plot worth over Tk 10 crore in Purbachal.

Afroza owns a 41 decimal land in Chandkhala Mouza of Kaliganj Upazila of Gazipur, Dhaka, which was purchased in 2017 (Deed No. 9998/17). In the same year, a 26 decimal land was purchased in her name in the same Mouza (Deed No. 10472/17).

Two years later, another 39 decimal land was purchased in her name in the same Mouza (Deed No. 1128).

In 2020, a 5 katha land was purchased in Afroza’s name in Jowar Sahara Mouza (Deed No. 5232/20). In the same year, another 10 katha of land was purchased in the same Mouza (Deed No. 9695) and a 6-storey building was built on it.

In 2018, Afroza bought two lands in the same Kaiyamsir-Kayetpara Mouza of Rupganj, Narayanganj–a 0.28 acres of land (Deed No. 13190/18) and a 32 decimal land (Deed No. 13189/18).

Assets purchased under the names of Children

The former DMP commissioner has allegedly purchased assets worth nearly Tk 70 crore under the names of his three children, Bangla Outlook found out.

Asaduzzaman’s 32-year old daughter, Ayesha Siddiqa, owns a 4,000 square foot flat in the Rupal Swapna Nilay building at 56/57 Siddheshwari Road in Dhaka. She also holds a plot of land in the Dhaka Udyan area of Mohammadpur.

Among her other assets are a 5 katha plot in Ramchandrapur Mouza of Mohammadpur, Dhaka, and a 10 katha plot on 406/B road in Sector 1 of Purbachal.

Asif Shahadat, the eldest son, possesses a diverse real estate portfolio. His holdings include 1.65 acres of land in Faridpur, valued at a minimum of Tk 1 crore, and various properties in prime locations such as Purbachal New Town, Aftabnagar, and Rupganj, with a combined estimated value exceeding Tk 20 crore.

Asaduzaman's youngest son, Asif Mahdin, currently studying in the United States, owns a luxuriously decorated triplex in the Nikunja residential area of the capital. The property, situated at 8/A Road No. 6, is estimated to be worth at least Tk 10 crore.

The former DMP commissioner allegedly kept wealth under the names of his brother-in-law and nephew as well.

Asaduzzaman’s brother-in-law Nur Alam alias Milan who was always unemployed and has no recorded income source, owns 1.5 acres of land in Sreepur, Gazipur whose valuation is over Tk 2 crore. His nephew, Kalam, owns 1.5 acres of land in Gazipur worth over Tk one crore.

Ibrahim Sheikh, a caretaker of Asaduzzaman’s village home in Kamargram of Gopalpur union of Alfadanga Upazila of Faridpur interestingly has two properties–100 and 60 decimals land in Gazipur area whose cumulative valuation is over Tk 3 crore. 

The tax records of the above-mentioned individuals, copies of which are obtained by Bangla Outlook, didn't cite any proper income source for them to justify possessions of such wealth.

Upon reaching out for comment, Asaduzzaman Mia asserted to Bangla Outlook that his wealth was not accumulated through any illegal activities, emphasizing that all his assets have been properly documented and taxes have been paid.

"Being the sole heir to my father's estate, I inherited over 100 bighas of land," Asaduzzaman explained. "I have sold a portion of this land, approximately 10 bighas, and used the proceeds to acquire other properties."

The former DMP commissioner further challenged anyone to find assets belonging to him or his family that are not commensurate with his income.

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