Md Nasir, a councillor of Ward No. 20 of the Dhaka North city Corporation (DNCC) has allegedly amassed huge wealth through extortion and other illegal means.
A recent investigation carried out by the Bangladesh Post found that Nasir made cores of taka illegally during the past Awami League government.
Within three months after becoming ward councillor, Nasir bought a private car worth around Tk 1.25 crore, which stunned the people of his area.
The investigation also reveals that Nasir purchased two luxury flats valued at around Tk 9 crore on the 7th floor of a building at Old DOHS, 23/A Mosque Road in Banani.
It was learnt from local people that Nasir had no other sources of income except for his monthly salary of Tk 35,000 as ward councillor.
As a ward councillor, he has become the owner of huge properties overnight.
During the investigation, it was also learnt that Nasir earns Tk 12 lakh per month through extortion from different illegal businesses located in the capital’s Niketan area.
He also take illegal toll from rickshaw garages, dish lines, and internet connection lines in his area. Some of his associates collect the toll on his behalf. Two persons named Orin and Sundori Suman are among them.
Besides, Nasir’s own employees— Rabbi, Sabuj, Tuhin and Shamim— earns Tk 12 lakh per month through illegal gas, water and connections to Seven-Story Slum in his area.
Councillor Nasir also allegedly takes a monthly toll of Tk 2 lakh from a warehouse and rickshaw
garage near Ghorar Khor area of IPS School.
It is also alleged that Nasir’s some other employees named Sohag, Jonaid, and Nayeb Ali collect Tk 4 lakh every month through illegal gas, water and power connections in Beltola Slum.
This correspondent also came to know that Tk 5 lakh is collected from footpath shops at Niketan Mohakhali wireless gate and given to Nasir's wife Lata Nasir.
There are 250 rickshaws operating in Niketan area and Tk 450 is collected daily in the councillor's name from rickshaw owners and drivers.
Members of Nasir's team, including Sundori Suman, Sabuj, Auto Shamim, and Kaillya Rimi collect toll and give it extorted money to Lata Nasir.
Moreover, Nasir's syndicate took control of six stores, a food hotel, and a rickshaw garage from a person named Farid in Beltola Bazar, located east of T&T Ground. Farid and his family were forced to leave their home after Nasir's men locked up the house.
While talking to this correspondent, Farid with tearful eyes said "Councillor Nasir has left me penniless. Day after day, they took my shops and my house and put me in jail. Justice is what I seek."
On August 21, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) issued a letter to ACC Assistant Director SM Rashedul Hasan requesting him investigate the allegation extortion and corruption councillor Nasir.
Later, SM Rashedul Hasan, the investigation officer, asked Nasir to appear before the ACC office on August 25, but he did not.
Rashedul Hasan told this correspondent that Nasir sent a representative to the ACC instead of attending personally, citing his illness and treatment. Medical records were submitted and a request for seeking time was made.
This correspondent tried to contact councillor Nasir over phone for his comments about the allegation against him but his phone was fount switched-off.
