Allegations submitted in ACC against Zakir
Staff Reporter :
A complaint has been filed with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against AKM Ahsanul Tayeb Zakir, president of Sonatala Upazila BNP in Bogura, accusing him of large-scale extortion, acting as the custodian of illegal assets belonging to former Awami League MP Sahadara Mannan of the fascist government, and forcibly occupying properties worth hundreds of crores of taka. The complaint also seeks investigation and legal action against his assets that are disproportionate to his known sources of income.
Sources said, a written complaint was submitted to the ACC chairman at Segunbagicha in the capital on December 29.
The complaint states that Ahsanul Tayeb Zakir—widely known in Bogura as an extortionist and land grabber—has acquired illegal assets worth hundreds of crores of taka since August 5. Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina, Zakir allegedly took control of all illegal assets belonging to former Bogura-1 MP Sahadara Mannan. By placing the lives of several hundred thousand people in Sonatala and Sariakandi at risk, he is accused of controlling more than fifty illegal sand mining sites and forcibly occupying over two hundred business establishments, from which he regularly collects extortion money.
The complaint further alleges that Zakir is involved in recruitment trading in at least 50 educational institutions across the two upazilas and extorts large sums by forcibly halting development projects. There are documented instances of multiple projects being shut down when extortion demands were not met—incidents that have been reported in national and local media at various times.
Accusing Zakir of establishing family dominance, the complaint states that his brother Ahsan Mominul Sohel is president of Sonatala Fazilatunnesa Mujib Women’s College; his nephew Ahsan Habib Ratan is president of Dr Enamul Haque Degree College; another brother, Ahsan Habib Mohan, is president of Baluahat Degree College; and another brother, Ahsan Habib Raja, is president of Sonatala Fazil Madrasa. Almost every school and college in the area is allegedly headed by his family members or close associates. Since August 5, Zakir allegedly extorted between Tk 500,000 and Tk 700,000 from each institution in exchange for not disturbing Awami League–leaning teachers and staff.
The complaint also alleges that Zakir forcibly seized homes, land, and businesses belonging to local residents, including minorities. He is accused of grabbing a teacher’s land to establish a college in his father’s name; when the teacher protested, Zakir allegedly filed false cases and forced him to flee the area. Other allegations include the occupation of land belonging to Ghorapir Shrine, seizure of government khas land worth approximately Tk 100 million near the police station, and forcibly securing a recent municipal tender worth Tk 90 million.
The complaint also refers to an incident from 2003, alleging that Zakir kicked a pregnant female employee of the international development organization CARE Bangladesh in the abdomen, resulting in the death of her unborn child. Following the incident, CARE Bangladesh allegedly shut down its operations permanently in the area.
Zakir has been described as a source of terror for the residents of Sonatala Upazila. He is also accused of involvement in drug trafficking and arms smuggling. Based on these allegations, local residents have urged the ACC to investigate Zakir’s illegally acquired assets and take appropriate legal action.