Ex-UP chairman, who ‘threatened’ US envoy, gets 7 years in graft case

A Chattogram court has sentenced former union parishad chairman Mujibul Haque Chowdhury to seven years in prison in a corruption case over acquiring wealth beyond known sources of income.

Judge Mizanur Rahman of the Divisional Special Judge’s Court passed the order on Thursday (Arpil 16).

According to Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) prosecutor Md. Rezaul Karim, the court found that Mujibul Haque accumulated assets worth Tk 56.71 lakh disproportionate to his known income, an offence punishable under Section 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004.

The court also imposed a fine equivalent to the amount, with an additional one-year imprisonment in default of payment.

Court officials said the convict has been absconding since the case was filed, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

Case documents state that although Mujibul Haque lived in Saudi Arabia between 1992 and 2010, he failed to provide valid documentation for remittances. Following an investigation, the ACC filed charges, and the court formally framed charges on July 3, 2025, before delivering the verdict after trial.

Mujibul Haque, also president of the Chambal Union Awami League, previously drew attention in 2023 for remarks perceived as threatening toward then US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Peter Haas, during a political rally.