Former Law Minister Anisul Huq allegedly took bribes ranging from Tk 10 to 20 lakh per person for the recruitment of employees in district magistrate courts across the country, the Anti-Corruption Commission said yesterday.

Anisul is also accused of abusing his power to launder money to Canada and other countries during the period when his assistant, advocate Toufika Karim, was the chairman of Citizen Bank, said the ACC.

This information was revealed through an investigation by the ACC.

ACC Deputy Director Akhtarul Islam told The Daily Star, "Based on the intelligence investigation, it has been initially observed that the various allegations against Anisul and Toufika are true, and the commission has decided to initiate an open investigation."

He further explained that Anisul, during his tenure as a minister, abused his power to accumulate a significant amount of illegal wealth.

The ACC official said he purchased 6.80 acres of land in Kasba, Trishal, and Purbachal in his own name.

Additionally, he owns shares worth Tk 40.10 crore in Citizen Bank and EXIM Bank.

Apart from this, his deposits in various banks, savings certificates, and other investments amount to Tk 23.26 crore.

He added that Toufika also has vast wealth in her name.

During her time as the chairman of Citizen Bank, Anisul Huq laundered crores of taka to various countries, including Canada, said ACC Deputy Director Akhtarul Islam.

Akhtarul said according to intelligence sources, Toufika was involved in all of Anisul's corrupt activities. Moreover, it has been found that they, along with their relatives, have amassed a large amount of unexplained wealth through irregularities and corruption.