Bangladesh News

A clerk of Dhaka Electricity Supply Authority (Desa) allegedly owns property worth around a staggering Tk 40 crore including a six-storey building, a flat, over 50 bighas of land, savings certificates and businesses.

An intelligence agency investigating corruption allegations against Desa officials and employees has recently unearthed the ill-gained fortune of Mohammad Kafil Uddin Patwari, an employee of Desa’s Kamrangirchar office.

Patwari, who hails from Chouddogram upazila of Comilla, however, disagrees with the probe findings. He said the assets do not belong to him alone.

According to intelligence sources, he owns a six-storey building and an adjoining five-katha plot at the city’s Madartek-Basabo, another five-katha land at Shanir Akhra, a 10-katha plot each at Khilkhet and Kanchpur and over 50 bighas of land at Chouddagram.

The intelligence sources said they have gathered that he owns a flat at Dhanmondi, two mobile phone shops at Basundhara City market, two more at Phulbaria city market, two variety stores at Ershad Market at Nandipara, two lungi shops at Khilgaon bazaar and possession of a shop at a new market near Mowchak.

Besides, Patwari has savings certificates worth around Tk 50 lakh with Bangladesh Bank, Tk 25 lakh with Islami Bank branch at Gulistan Dawn Plaza and Tk 45 lakh with the General Post Office (GPO).

His insurance plans with Maghbazar and Eskatan branches of American Life Insurance Company total Tk 50 lakh while shares in Kakrail Imperial Multipurpose Company are valued at Tk 50 lakh.

Most of his lands and share certificates however are in names of the family members and others, added the sources.

Patwari rides in a Toyota minivan worth Tk 18 lakh and lives in a flat whose rent is Tk 25,000 a month.

Differing with the estimate of his property, he told The Daily Star, “I don’t own most of the assets mentioned.” For instance, he said, he is not the sole owner of the six-storey building.

Asked about his other assets, he said, “I have given all information on my wealth to the task force.”

Abul Kalam Azad, executive engineer of the sales and supply department at Desa Kamrangirchar office, said, “Patwari has been working under me for only last three months. I am not aware of his property.”

Desa sources said Patwari joined Desa on June 16, 1985 as a fourth class employee.

Meanwhile, a special task force is working to know the extent of corruption in Desa.

Earlier this year, another task force unearthed corruption of crores of taka by a section of staff at Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Limited.