Chattogram:The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has initiated legal action against Mahbub-Ur-Rahman Ruhel, a former Awami League lawmaker from the Chattogram-1 constituency. Ruhel faces allegations of illegally occupying Bangladesh Railway land in Mirsarai and misappropriating Taka 1.12 crore in government revenue.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Ruhel, who is also the Managing Director of Gasmin Limited and the son of the late Awami League Presidium Member and former Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain, has been charged by ACC Chattogram Deputy Assistant Director Tapsir Billah. The case was filed under several sections of the Penal Code, including Sections 409, 420, 427, and 447.
The case statement reveals that in 2016, Ruhel applied for a long-term lease of 3.75 acres of land in Paschim Hinguli Mouza of Mirsarai upazila to establish a hollow block manufacturing factory. However, before the Bangladesh Railway authority could officially lease the land, Ruhel allegedly encroached upon it, constructing semi-pucca structures and a two-storey office building.
Further investigations indicated that Ruhel altered the land's topographical classification by filling up a government pond without permission. The ACC discovered that the land was legally held by Ekramul Haque for agriculture and aquaculture activities, but Ruhel forcibly took control of it.
Special directives from the then Railway Minister Md. Mujibul Haque in March 2018 allowed a relaxation of the railway policy, granting Gasmin Limited a temporary lease for only 0.74 acres on a renewable yearly basis. However, inspections revealed that Ruhel had illegally occupied an additional 154 decimals (1.54 acres) beyond the sanctioned lease area for commercial use.
The ACC's case submission also accuses Ruhel of embezzling Taka one crore, 12 lakh 36,117 through criminal breach of trust and fraudulent activities.