Corruption in Tk 1,500-crore ‘Sufal’ project: ACC raids and summons documents at the Forest Department

There have been allegations of widespread irregularities and embezzlement in the Tk 1,500-crore ‘Sufal’ (Sufal) project, the biggest initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has summoned important documents related to the Forest Department in order to investigate this corruption. On Monday (July 27), ACC Deputy Director Akhtarul Islam confirmed that an investigative team of the agency is directly conducting the work of collecting necessary records from the Forest Department.

ACC sources said that initial information has been found of embezzlement of hundreds of crores of taka by showing fake vouchers and paper work for infrastructure construction, sapling planting and social forestry work at the field level of this mega project that started in 2018. Earlier, in February 2025, a surprise raid was conducted at the Forest Department and the initial truth of these irregularities was found. In continuation of that investigation, detailed documents have now been summoned for verification.

Former Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Shahab Uddin, Chief Conservator of Forests Amir Hossain Chowdhury and Sufal Project Director Govinda Roy, along with several senior officials of the department, have been directly and indirectly involved in this corruption. ACC official Akhtarul Islam said that after thoroughly verifying the collected documents, a further decision will be taken to take legal action against the responsible persons.

It is worth noting that, in addition to irregularities in the Sufal project, the ACC is also conducting a separate investigation into former Forest Minister Shahab Uddin for acquiring illegal wealth. As part of that investigation, the court has already ordered the seizure (freezing) of a valuable 5-katha plot in Uttara, the capital, and several bank accounts belonging to Shahab Uddin and his son Zakir Hossain Jumon.