Serious allegations of corruption, abuse of power and extortion have surfaced against Shafiqul Alam, former Press Secretary to the Chief Adviser of the recently dissolved interim government.
A complaint filed with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) accuses him of embezzling nearly Tk 2,000 crore by leveraging his influence to install his brother in a key position at the Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC).
The ACC has reportedly launched a formal inquiry into the allegations.
According to sources familiar with the complaint, Alam is accused of widespread abuse of authority during the interim administration, allegedly invoking the name of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus to facilitate extortion and secure undue business advantages through influence over various ministries. The complaint also refers to him by the controversial moniker “Dustbin Shafik.”
The most significant allegation centers on NCC, where Alam allegedly used his position to place his brother in a strategic post, enabling the misappropriation of approximately Tk 2,000 crore through irregular contracts and financial manipulation.
Questions Over Post-Government Appointment
Further controversy has emerged over Alam’s new employment following the dissolution of the interim government. Both Alam and former Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Mazumder have joined a new English-language daily titled Daily Wada, reportedly financed by Singapore-based multinational conglomerate MGH Group.
The appointment has triggered allegations of conflict of interest. During the tenure of the interim government led by Yunus, a corruption case involving MGH Group’s Global CEO, Anis Ahmed Gorki, was withdrawn.
ACC sources said a case was filed against Gorki on December 28, 2022, over allegations of illegal wealth accumulation and money laundering amounting to Tk 136 crore. Following an extensive investigation, the commission approved the submission of a charge sheet on March 25, 2024, citing that over Tk 17.22 crore worth of assets lacked a legitimate source.
However, on October 15, 2024, the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge, Mohammad Ash-Shams Jaglul Hossain, ordered the withdrawal of the case, stating that sufficient evidence to proceed was not found.
Analysts Raise Concerns
Writers and analysts have raised questions regarding the apparent connection between the withdrawal of the corruption case and the subsequent hiring of former government officials by a company that benefited from the legal decision during their tenure.
In a recent column, commentator Kabir Yahmed questioned whether the case withdrawal process was legally sound and whether the Office of the Chief Adviser had any role in it.
Observers argue that the swift transition of senior officials into a corporate entity that received significant legal relief during their term raises serious concerns about transparency, ethical governance and potential quid pro quo arrangements.
Calls have intensified for an independent and impartial investigation to determine whether any financial or administrative impropriety influenced the withdrawal of the case and the subsequent appointments.
