Allegations of massive irregularities and corruption are rife against Muhammad Galib Khan, a former Dhaka District Cooperatives officer. He allegedly made crores of taka by providing jobs to 24 people in exchange of money.
It is alleged that Galib Khan gave jobs to around 24 people, including his sister, eight relatives and 13 others of his home district Faridpur during 2009-2022 period.
There is a serious allegation that he (Galib) would dissolve district-level committees of the cooperative societies frequently and gave permission to sell land of the societies in exchange of money when he was the Dhaka District Cooperatives officer.
The relatives who have been given jobs by Galib are Morad Hossain, Tayebur Rahman Jewel, Munshi Abdul Qaiyum, Nuruddin Biswas and Mahbub Hossain Bhuiyan.
Of them, Morad Hossain is an upazila cooperative officer at Kashiani in Gopalganj while Tayebur, Abdul Qaiyum, Nuruddin Biswas and Mahbub are working at various places as inspector.
Galib’s sister Sultana Taposhi Khanam and cousin Abdullah Khan Kajal are working as office assistant at Gopalganj District Cooperative Office.
When asked about her job, Taposhi said, “My cousin Kajal and I got the job as office assistant with the help of our brother. I do not know anything about the jobs of others.”
“My brother Galib has helped many people. Those, who have taken benefits from my brother, now stand against him,” she said, requesting this correspondent to talk to her brother instead of writing news item.
When this correspondent talked to Galib’s other relatives about their jobs, they tactfully avoided the matter.
Tania Sultana, introducing her as wife of Galib, contacted this correspondent and made a proposal for talks. Claiming her husband as an honest and dedicated officer, she sent misleading information on whatsapp. She said her husband has become a victim.
“Some bad people are leading the Department of Cooperatives. Class-II and Class-III employees dominate the office. If anyone speaks against them, he/she gets insulted by them,” she said.
Besides family members and relatives, Galib gave jobs to 16 others in 2022 through illegal means. Of the 16 individuals, 13 are from his Faridpur district.
The names of the 16 staff are Ankhi Alamgir working as inspector, Shah Alam Sheikh, Imran Talukder, Shanewaz Lotus, Sheikh Nurjamal and Kamal Hossain as assistant inspector, Sabbir Hossain as accounts assistant, Ahmad Ali as cashier, Habib Molla, Tariqul Islam, Kamrun Nahar Lipi, Kalidas Biswas, Mohsin Miah and Polash Kumar Pal as office assistant, Bilash Kumar Goldar and Motiur Rahman as night guard.
Of them, Lipi and Mohsin are from Munshiganj district and Motiur is from Noagaon district.
It is learnt that the parliamentary standing committee on the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives in 2018 recommended that the government take action against Galib after relieving him of the duties.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on October 12 in 2023 filed two separate cases against Galib Khan for allegedly amassing huge illegal wealth.
Besides, a complaint was also filed in the Cabinet Division in August in 2023 over Galib’s irregularities.
It was mentioned in the complaint letter that Galib gave registration to 236 organisations between 2009 and 2017. Of the organisations, 50 belongs to Hefazat-e-Islam, banned militant outfits Hizbut Tahrir and Dawat-e-Tabligh.
It is alleged that the registrations were given in exchange of huge amount of money. Some other allegations include looting money through false projects and tax evasion.
A victim Ruhul Amin alleged that Galib, ignoring a directive of the court, dissolved the elected body of Chhinnamul Banik Samabay Samity Ltd in 2010 in exchange of Tk 10 lakh.
Galib, later, embezzled Tk two core through selling a piece of 39 decimal plot, bought by the members of a cooperatives society, which was formed by the people of his choice, Ruhul alleged.
There is also an allegation that Galib was the mastermind of running the Dipti Multipurpose Co-Operatives Society Ltd.
Despite all the allegations, Galib (Professor) is now serving the Bangladesh Samabay Academy, Cumilla.
When asked about the allegation of irregularities against Galib, the Department of Cooperatives Register and Director General Shariful Islam told the Bangladesh Post that he joined the department just seven months ago.
“I have to look into all the allegations. Action will be taken if he is found guilty,” he said.
When asked about the jobs of 24 people, Galib Khan told the Bangladesh Post that he was not in the recruitment committee.
“So, I’m not involved with the recruitment process,” he said, adding that his kin do not work at the Department of Cooperatives.
Asked about the departmental case against him, Galib said, “I have been relieved of the departmental case after scrutiny.”
Over the cases with the ACC, he said, “Two cases are running against me and the investigation is underway.”
Over the parliamentary standing committee’s recommendation for taking action against him, he said, “I do not know about such recommendation.”
