Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen on Sunday revealed his assets and liabilities to the media.

He shared his income and expenditure and assets details with the media at the views- exchange programme between the new commission members and media professionals at its headquarters in the city.

The ACC chairman said he has formally submitted his assets and liabilities details to the ACC Reform Commission while other commissioners will submit their assets and liabilities details.

Abdul Momen joined the office on 11 December, a day after being appointed. On that day, he announced that he would disclose his movable and immovable assets and income and expenditure accounts within seven days.

On that day, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) called on the new ACC chairman and commissioners to disclose their income and wealth statements for the sake of transparency.

Revealing his assets, the new chairman said that he has an apartment of 1,500 square feet, consisting of two 750 square feet apartments in Basila. He is in the process of acquiring another 700 square feet there.

"I have a vacant land with my wife in Purbachal American City, five kathas. I was a member of the BCS administration committee. There are 10 kathas of land there for eight members. My share will be 1.25 kathas. I paid money in 2007, but I have not received possession yet."

He also said he had deposited Tk75,000 for a plot in RAJUK. To date, there has been no settlement of it. For whatever reason, the government did not give it to me. "I will apply again. Apart from this, I do not have any other immovable assets."

Regarding movable assets, Momen said there are 25 self-contained books of different sizes. There are many expensive books. There are furniture and electronic equipment, including things worth Tk5 lakh.

He said he received interest from a savings certificate of five years of Tk30 lakh and a savings certificate of Tk20 lakh every three months. "I have not withdrawn my GPF money, there is Tk17 lakh," he added.

Telling about his source of income, he said, my income from work - the sale proceeds of inherited assets.

He claimed his working life is long. "I have started earning since my student days. When I leave this job, you will calculate how much this wealth has increased, how much it has decreased."

The ACC chief said, “The political changeover we are witnessing in Bangladesh since 5 August is unique in world history, as demonstrated by the fact that the prime minister fled, and at the same time the khatib of Baitul Mukarram has also fled.”

Noting that corruption is rampant in the state, he said public awareness needs to be created on this issue.

He also emphasised active engagement and asked the media to play a role in this regard.

ACC Commissioner (Investigation) Mia Mohammad Ali Akbar Azizi said the commission is working with only half its designated manpower. "We will investigate freely where there will be no bias. We are committed to the nation."

ACC Commissioner (Enquiry) Brig Gen (retd) Hafiz Ahsan Farid said the commission’s professional base is very strong. Even after 42 days of non-commission, ACC officers and employees have worked tirelessly.