Summary: 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 PM)
|
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.
Dr. Peter Snowman
34 Bay Side Ave
New York City
USA
34 Bay Side Ave
New York City
USA
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