Pabna: The Project Implementation Officer (PIO) of Shahjadpur upazila in Sirajganj has been arrested in Pabna on allegations of corruption. Abul Kalam Azad was apprehended on Sunday night in a joint operation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and police in the Gopalpur area of the district town.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the ACC’s Pabna Integrated District Office Assistant Director, Sadhan Chandra Sutradhar, confirmed the arrest of Azad, who has faced multiple cases for alleged embezzlement of development project funds, fabrication of fake muster rolls, and misappropriation of government money. Azad, who had been evading arrest, hails from Hasampur village under Sujanagar upazila of Pabna and currently resides with his family in the Shalgaria area of the town.
The ACC sources reported that, after a prolonged investigation, sufficient evidence of corruption was uncovered against Azad, prompting the issuance of an arrest warrant. Case statements reveal that in 2023, preliminary investigations indicated illegal wealth accumulation by Azad. In May 2024, the ACC requested him to submit a wealth statement, which he provided in July 2024. However, investigators discovered that he had concealed information on assets worth Tk 9.42 lakh and detected unexplained wealth amounting to Tk 1.32 crore, which did not align with his known sources of income.
In light of these findings, the ACC proceeded to file four separate cases against Azad – three in March 2025 and one more in October 2025. Officials from the ACC stated that Azad was ultimately captured based on a tip-off during his time on the run.