Salam is on the run after Wadud Bhiuyan's arrest last month. Sources in security forces said Salam is on their arrest list and they raided his house several times but failed to nab him.

Abdus Salam owns at least three luxurious houses worth about Tk 4 crore at Molla Para (besides hospital gate), Shanti Nagor and Bangalkathi in Sadar upazila, over 180-acre orchards at Vuyachhari, Alutila, Panchhari in the district and some seven plots for shops in markets in Khagrachhari town, according to sources in police and intelligence. Salam was president of Khagrachhari district Jubo Dal.

The sources said Salam's Molla Para house encroaches government land, the Shabdamia Para house was built by grabbing his paternal uncles land and the Santinagor house partly occupies land of a local journalist.

Tozammel Hossen Zoarder, resident medical officer of Khagrachhari Adhunik Sadar Hospital, said yesterday he demanded a judicial inquiry to recover the government land encroached by Salam's Molla Para house.

The journalist whose land was grabbed in Santinager told this correspondent that he was preparing to filed a case against the land grabber. He also demanded probe into Salam's assets.

An engineer of LGED seeking anonymity said, "He (Salam) spent more than Tk 4 crore for building the three houses, where imported materials were also used".

The sources said the Jubo Dal leader, using party cadre, occupied at least seven plots for shops in different markets, now valued at around Tk one crore.

Salam earned money illegally by extracting percentages from development works under the district council, Chittagong Hill Tracts Development Board, LGED and Roads & Highways department. He was the main mediator for tender negotiations, the sources said.

Allegations also have it that he realised handsome amounts of money in the name of giving jobs in schools and government departments.

Salam's illegal wealth is now a talk of the town with many political leaders demanding probe into his alleged corruption.

Talking to this correspondent, district Awami League Secretary Zahedul Alam claimed that Salam amassed property worth at least Tk 7 crore in last five years and demanded probe into his alleged corruption.

LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) leader Rafiqul Islam and Jatiya Party central leader Sahaz Uddin also demanded probe on how Salam earned the resources.