A former colleague of Shahriar Kabir, the self-styled political commentator who recently sparked outrage by calling Bangladesh’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman a “traitor” on a private TV talk show, has come forward with explosive allegations about Kabir’s past.
In a video statement, London-based Barrister and Solicitor Zinnat Ali Chowdhury detailed what he described as Shahriar Kabir’s “history of deception and inferiority” during his stay in the United Kingdom. Chowdhury said he decided to speak out after Kabir’s “unforgivable and disrespectful” comments about Bangabandhu.
According to Barrister Zinnat, the two first met in 2002 while working at the Sainsbury’s supermarket in the Chiswick area of London. At the time, Zinnat was a part-time student employee, while Kabir allegedly held the post of assistant manager.
“From the very beginning, I was surprised,” Zinnat recounted. “How could a student work full-time as a managerial staff? It didn’t add up.”
Fraud Exposed During Passport Verification
Zinnat claimed that the truth surfaced when the store undertook a file update, requiring verification of all employees’ passports. Kabir’s passport reportedly stated clearly: “Part-time only.”
“Despite this restriction, he had secured a full-time managerial position with false information,” Zinnat alleged.
He further described a “humiliating scene” that followed. Once confronted by the store manager and HR officials, Kabir allegedly broke down in tears, pleading with them not to report him to the UK Home Office—fearing deportation and the loss of his student visa.
“To save himself, he begged endlessly, even holding their feet,” Zinnat said. “The management took pity on him and downgraded his position from assistant manager to supervisor instead of dismissing him.”
From Managerial Role to Night-Shift Labour
After the demotion, Kabir reportedly became the subject of ridicule among staff. Unable to cope with the embarrassment, Zinnat claimed Kabir voluntarily shifted to the night shift and began manual labour, such as unloading goods from delivery lorries.
“This is the real face of the man who now dares to insult Bangabandhu,” Zinnat said.
‘He Damaged the Reputation of Bangladeshi Students Abroad’
Expressing anger, Barrister Zinnat said that individuals like Shahriar Kabir were responsible for Bangladeshi students being branded as “liars” abroad.
“Using a passport issued under Bangabandhu’s government, he came to London dreaming of becoming a barrister. Today that same man has the audacity to malign Bangabandhu,” he added.
Call to Media: ‘Do Not Promote Such Frauds’
In his concluding remarks, Barrister Zinnat urged Bangladesh’s television channels to refrain from featuring individuals he described as “frauds, ignorant of history and ethics.”
“There is no justification for giving media space to such deceitful and disgraceful individuals. They should be boycotted,” he said.
