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The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against former Chattogram-1 MP Mahboob Rahman Ruhel over the alleged illegal occupation of Bangladesh Railway land and the evasion of Tk1.12 crore in government revenue.
ACC Assistant Director Tafsir Billah filed the case on Sunday (October 19) at the commission’s Integrated District Office-2 in Chattogram, accusing the former Awami League lawmaker of abusing power and violating estate management rules by constructing a factory and other structures on railway land.
According to the case statement, Ruhel applied on September 18, 2016, for a long-term lease of 3.7564 acres of railway land in West Hingguli mouza of Mirsharai upazila to establish an eco-friendly cement, sand and hollow-block factory.
However, he allegedly occupied the land before the lease was approved and began constructing a 6,489-square-foot semi-concrete factory and a 990-square-foot, two-storey office building.
He is also accused of occupying land leased to others for farming and fish cultivation and filling in a pond on plot BS 5120.
The case statement says the estate management policy was relaxed in 2017 on the instructions of the then railways minister, following which Ruhel’s company, Gasmin Limited, received a renewable annual lease for 0.74 acres, or 32,130 square feet, of land.
An ACC investigation found that Ruhel allegedly occupied 2.28 acres across plots BS 5119 and 5120, far exceeding the leased area. The land was used for commercial purposes and contained a factory, office rooms, a mosque, an ablution area, a large field for storing and drying blocks, and a water tank.
Between January 1, 2017, and June 30, 2025, Gasmin Limited paid Tk44,95,529 in lease fees, including VAT and income tax, for the approved 0.74 acres.
However, the government was entitled to Tk1,57,31,646 for the 2.28 acres allegedly occupied, according to the case documents.
The ACC alleges that the additional occupation of 154 decimals resulted in a loss of Tk1,12,36,117 in government revenue.
The case covers the period from December 26, 2016, to June 30, 2025. Ruhel faces allegations of criminal breach of trust, fraud, causing financial loss and illegal possession.
The case statement added that legal action would be taken against any other individuals found to have been involved during the investigation.