Millionaire BNP Ministers
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