Empire of Illegal Wealth: Ex-cabinet secy Kabir Bin Anwar under ACC scanner
Selim Reza, Sirajganj :
Former cabinet secretary Kabir Bin Anwar, currently under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for allegedly amassing significant assets beyond his known income sources, has reportedly gone into hiding to avoid potential arrest after three cases were filed against him.
These cases relate to the deaths of three BNP and Jubo Dal members during the mass protests in August.
While law enforcement agencies are actively working to trace his whereabouts, local politicians and civil society representatives have urged authorities to ensure his arrest, drawing parallels to the recent arrests of former MP Jannat Ara Talukder Henry and her husband, former Zilla Parishad Chairman Shamim Talukder Labu.
The three victims, Sohanur Rahman Ranju (Vice-President of Jubo Dal’s Sirajganj District Unit), Md. Sumon (a Chhatra Dal activist), and Abdul Latif (a Jubo Dal activist), were fatally shot during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
Following their deaths, three separate murder cases were filed at the Sirajganj Sadar Police Station by family members of the deceased.
The cases implicate over 900 individuals, including Kabir Bin Anwar, former MP Habib-e-Millat Munna, Jannat Ara Talukder Henry, and her husband Shamim Talukder Labu.
Kabir Bin Anwar’s father, Anwar Hossain Ratu, was a close associate of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the founding president of the Sirajganj District Awami League.
Kabir Bin Anwar, also known locally as ‘Kala Manik,’ reportedly enjoyed a special rapport with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, partly due to his father’s connections.
This political influence allegedly shielded him from scrutiny and allowed him to access large-scale projects across various locations, including Dhaka, Gazipur, Saint Martin’s Island, Cox’s Bazar, and Sirajganj.
According to sources, he amassed substantial wealth through these ventures, including properties such as luxury flats, garden houses, and recreational facilities.
While serving as Director General of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Project Director of the A2I programme, Kabir Bin Anwar is alleged to have appointed friends and relatives in construction businesses, facilitating substantial financial gain through various projects.
In 2021, Manik Chowdhury, a resident of Sirajganj, filed a complaint with the ACC, accusing Kabir of illegally amassing assets worth crores of taka.
The complaint specifically requested an investigation into recent allocations by the Water Development Board (WDB) in Sirajganj, alleging misuse of funds through connections to his family and followers.
Reports indicate that Kabir’s associates received lucrative project contracts without due process, and that substantial funds were misappropriated from incomplete or partially completed projects.
His influence allegedly extended to committee appointments aimed at combating drug use and terrorism in the region.
ACC has since taken cognizance of these allegations, and a formal inquiry into WDB allocations under his oversight has been initiated.
Allegations suggest that Kabir profited by awarding subcontracts for these projects, with several significant works reportedly given to his associates and family members, including contracts valued at tens of crores.
Many projects, particularly riverbank protection works in Sirajganj, saw dramatic cost increases.
For instance, the per-kilometre cost of certain projects reportedly rose to Tk 73 crore, far above the typical Tk 12 to Tk 17 crore.
Further allegations involve extensive irregularities and corruption in the hiring processes within the Water Resources Ministry, along with dubious financial practices surrounding dredger purchases and machinery acquisitions.
Kabir’s family is reported to have wielded substantial control over Sirajganj’s WDB operations, disregarding official oversight and amassing assets both domestically and abroad.
His wealth reportedly includes dairy farms, resorts, and oil mills, and he has been known to use a barge named ‘Turjyo’ for personal travel, often accompanied by associates.
Efforts to reach Kabir Bin Anwar for comment have been unsuccessful, as his phone remains switched off.