Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Iqbal Mahmood yesterday warned that those women who assist their husbands in amassing illegal wealth, will also have to face punishment for corruption.

“Husbands often keep wealth in the names of their wives to cover up their corruption. I call upon women not to assist their husbands in corrupt activities; otherwise, they will also have to face trial,” he said.

Iqbal said this while addressing a views-exchange meeting titled "Families' liabilities behind illegal wealth and income: Women's role, risk and duty" organised by Transparency International, Bangladesh (TIB) at its Dhanmondi office in the capital.

TIB presented a work paper in the meeting. As per the paper, ACC is enquiring 118 allegations where it has been found that husbands amassed wealth illegally but kept those in the names of their wives. ACC received those allegations in between 2015 and 2017.

The commission is investigating 30 such cases and submitted charge sheets in 14 cases, reads the paper.

In 29 cases between 2007 and 2018, 29 women were sentenced to imprisonment and fined for assisting their husbands in amassing wealth beyond the known source of income or concealing information of wealth, according to the paper.

Iqbal said, in many cases, women do not know that they are becoming victims. Addressing the women, he said, “…Don't sign blank cheques.”

Without ensuring freedom for women, development is not possible, he said.

TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said the impact of corruption is high among the weak section of society. From that perspective, its impact is high on women as they are not empowered, he said.

Shaheen Anam, executive director of Manusher Jonno Foundation, said women should be empowered and given due dignity.

“In our society, women's opinions are not given due importance; that is why, they cannot raise voice against corruption in and outside home,” she added.

Rokeya Kabir of Bangladesh Nari Progati Sangha said the society is dominated by men. As a result, women have less scope to make decisions, she said.

Eminent Political Scientist Dr Dilara Choudhury said, “We live in a society where amassing wealth illegally is not considered a crime. Here, corrupt persons are honoured.” 

Asif Nazrul, a professor of law at the University of Dhaka, said if wives become strict, husbands will not be able to do corruption.

Farah Kabir, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh, said corruption is ingrained in the society where women easily become victims of corruption.

Referring to the example of micro-credit, she said husbands, brothers and fathers trap rural women in applying for loans.

Later, they misappropriate the funds, leaving the women solely responsible for the loans, she said.

“I request ACC to air advertisements in national radio and television to make women aware of how they become victims of corruption,” she added.