Hawa Bhaban was headquarter of the corruption of BNP-Jamat

Hawa Bhaban was headquarter of the corruption of BNP-Jamat

Corruption is the number one problem for Bangladesh. Transparency International in its annual report placed Bangladesh at the top of the list of most corrupt nations in the world. Certainly, it makes the politicians in Bangladesh, especially those in power, extremely uncomfortable and worried. It is apprehended that in the coming report of Transparency International, Bangladesh is going to be placed once again at the top. Although the ruling alliance in the country are making frantic bids in cleansing the image of Bangladesh, it is well understood that, international community are yet to be convinced to the fact that, Begum Khaleda Zia’s government is doing something in eliminating corruption from different section in the country. Only recently, an intelligence agency in the country identified 11 mid ranking officials with National Board of Revenue, who own 15 luxurious villas in countries port city of Chittagong, which costs US$ 2.5 million. It is important to mention here that, monthly salary of these officials is less than US$ 400 per month! Police and Customs (revenue) are the most corrupt departments in Bangladesh. Almost all the officers, on their retirement, emerge as multi-millionaire. They acquire wealth and properties in their own name of in the names of their spouses. It is almost an open secret in the country. Government also knows these facts, but is unable to take any action.

In recent days, names of some of the members of the BNP’s cabinet in Bangladesh come as the worst corrupts. They minted money like wild gambling. Sixty members of parliament rose complaint against a particular minister, while the Prime Minister Khaleda Zia did not take any action against him. It is also learnt that, many of the family members of Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia are becoming fabulously rich, by using state power. The most talked about corrupt figure in Bangladesh is Tareq Rahman, eldest son of the Prime Minister. TAREQ BECAME BILLIONAIRE JUST IN FEW YEARS, WHILE MANY OF HIS FRIENDS, WHO WERE PARTNERS IN HOMOSEXUAL ACTIVITIES OR IN THE ADDICTION OF PHENSIDYL ALSO BECAME VERY RICH UNDER THE DIRECT PATRONIZATION OF THE SON OF PM BEGUM KHALEDA ZIA.

Tareq has established Hawa Bhaban, which is although considered as one of the offices of the ruling party. There are solid evidences of this office’s involvement in interfering in almost all the business and contracts in the country. Hawa Bhaban palls are considered as the most influential figures in Bangladesh. One of the Hawa Bhaban palls is Giasuddin Mamun, who is tareq’s closest friend too. Hailing from an extreme poor family in the southern part of Bangladesh, Mamun is today one of the richest men in Bangladesh through various corruption, smuggling and many other forms of illegal activities.

Surprisingly one of the assistant press secretaries of Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Touhidul Islam alias Ashik Islam is simultaneously working in the PMO as well in Hawa Bhaban as its spokesman. Moreover, this man is also involved with Tareq’s private television channel, Channel One. There are numerous allegations on Ashik’s involvement in a number of financial irregularities as well of misappropriating state money with various excuses, government did not take any action against this man, as he is considered to be one of the closest aides of Tareq Rahman. In the PMO too, Ashik is known as an womanizer, alcoholic, bribe taker and blackmailer. Prime Minister Khaleda Zia was notified several times about this man’s illegal activities by country’s intelligence agencies. But, she could not take any action against Ashik, as Tareq always stood behind him with fullest support.

Khaleda’a own brother, Sayeed Iskander, who is a sacked major of Bangladesh army, also turned into multi-millionaire by using the influence of his sister. Sayeed runs a company named dandy Dying, which is a mere camouflage of his other activities. Behind the mask of Dandy Dying, Sayeed is involved in minting fabulous amount of cash through kick backs or other means; as well he is virtually active as the unseen defense advisor to the Prime Minister. No posting or promotion in the army is possible without his blessings or recommendations. Sayeed Iskander placed a number of his course-mates and even some of his close relatives in the sensitive and important positions in Bangladesh Army. A man with high political ambition, Sayeed is known to be one of the key conspirators in seizing power from Khaleda by using his grip in the armed forces. His ultimate goal is to become the future Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Khaleda’s late husband President Ziaur Rahman sacked Sayeed Iskander from Bangladesh Army for his alleged involvement in a number of corruption charges. Zia was one of the few honest figures in Bangladesh politics, who did not allow any of the members of his family to make money using state power. Not only that, Ziaur Rahman was the man, who did not interfere when both of his sons were ousted from St. Joseph School, which is considered one of the most prestigious schools in Dhaka. Zia’s sons were to leave this school because they turned to be duffers and extremely inattentive to their education. Tareq and his brother requested their daddy to readmit them in St. Joseph, when angry Ziaur Rahman said, “I am not in power to support inattentive sons of mine”. 

The present government will finish its tenure this October. Meantime, names of most corrupt ministers are already coming in circulation, with figures of cash they minted during the five-year term of the BNP government since 2001. The corrupt ministers are:

Name of Minister Amount Earned in U$

01 Barrister Nazmul Huda 0.5 billion

02 Mirza Abbas 43 Million

03 Begum Khurshid Jahan Haque (sister of Khaleda Zia) 40 Million

04 Tariqul Islam 38 million

05 Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan 35 million

06 Salahuddin Ahmed 32 million

07 Barrister Aminul Huq 31 million

08 Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf 30 million

09 Altaf Hussain Chowdhury 28 million

10 Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku 26 million

11 Dr. Khandekar Musharraf Hussain 25 million

12 Barkatulla Bulu 24 million

13 Abdullah Al Noman 23 million

14 Lt. Col Akber Hussain 22 million

15 Major (Retired) Qamrul Islam 21 million

16 Shajahan Siraj 20 million

17 Advocate Gautam Chakrabarty 17 million

18 Amanullah Aman 15 million

19 Ziaul Haque Zia 14 million

20 Jafrul Islam Chowdhury 13 million

21 ANM Ehsanul Haque Milon 11 million

22 Asadul Habib Dulu 10 million

23 Fazlur Rahman Patal 9 million

24 Advocate Ruhul Quddus Talikder Dulu 8 million

25 Lutfur Rahman Khan Azad 6 million

Finance Minister M. Saifur Rahman is although considered to be a clean man, his sons are engaged in minting money by using the influence of their father. His sons are involved in several businesses like multi-level marketing (a company, which just disappeared after taking a few million dollars from the innocent people), customs clearing and forwarding business (this company is handling most of the big businesses in the country, just because, finance minister’s sons are partners in the business), readymade garments (smuggling of narcotics are done under the cover of this business) etc.

BNP: Sadek Hossain Khoka, Dhaka Mayor, on corruption charges.

Dhaka mayor, family sued for alleged corruption

The Anti-Corruption Commi-ssion on Wednesday lodged a case against the Dhaka mayor, Sadeque Hossain Khoka, his wife, son and daughter for amassing illegal wealth and concealing information in the wealth statements.

The mayor’s wife, Ismat Ara, daughter Sarika Sadeque and son Ishrak Hossain were accused of abetting him in the crime, according to the first information report filed with Ramna police by the commission’s assistant director Samsul Alam.

According to the first information report of the case, the mayor, who is also the city BNP president, is accused of acquiring wealth of Tk 17.57 crore beyond his known sources of income and concealing information on assets of Tk 9.96 crore of the total sum.

Khoka submitted his wealth statement to the commission on December 6, 2007 showing that he and his family owned assets of Tk 10.04 crore, including 11 houses and flats, eight land plots, landed property and Tk 5.5 crore in cash, according to the first information report.

Khoka claimed that he owned asset of Tk 3.33 crore, his wife Tk 5.28 crore, daughter 51.42 lakh and son 91.62 lakh, said the report. ‘The commission finds that the three individually own legitimate assets of Tk 2.04 crore, Tk 34,48,000, Tk 3,68,600 and Tk 2,26,300.’

Khoka submitted false information on his wealth of Tk 1.96 crore by not counting the construction costs of his houses at Gopibagh, Gulshan and on the RK Mission Road in Dhaka and in Munshiganj.

His wife submitted false wealth statement of Tk 66.45 lakh by not counting the construction costs of her shop on the RK Mission Road, flat at Tikatuli and the value of the landed property in Gazipur. She also suppressed information on her money deposited with the Standard Chartered Bank at the Motijheel branch.

His daughter submitted the wealth statement of Tk 16.46 lakh by not counting the construction costs of her flat at Tikatuli, and the value of the landed property at Badda. His son submitted the wealth statement of Tk 15.87 lakh.

The commission also found that Khoka’s wife had concealed information on the purchase costs of Tk 3.24 crore, daughter of Tk 1.43 crore, and son of Tk 2.93 crore of the property at the Bashundhara Project in Badda.

Khoka, one of the 35 corruption suspects named on the fourth list published by the commission on October 4, 2007, was service with notice on November 18 to submit the wealth statements.

The commission’s task forces earlier interrogated the mayor, his wife and daughter at the their house in Old Town of Dhaka, but the forces could not interrogate his son as he was in London, said the sources in the commission.

Khoka at a news briefing held earlier accused the commission of distorting the information on his wealth.