Allegations have recently been lodged to the Anti-Corruption Commission stating that a mighty syndicate led by Sheikh Golam Mahbub, the former Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs, dominated Dhaka’s civil and criminal courts, engaging in unethical lobbying, and abusing power. Under his leadership, a group of lawyers allegedly exploited the system for personal gain over the past few years.
Mahbub’s siblings, Fatima Akhter, Sheikh Golam Mahmud, and Sheikh Golam Maksud—all advocates—were part of the syndicate. They manipulated the court system, intervened in judicial processes, and secured positions as panel lawyers in various banks.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the media were notified of this through an anonymous complaint on September 30, alleging Sheikh Golam Mahbub’s influence over the legal arena.
However, when the Bangladesh Post contacted the complainant, who preferred anonymity, said, “This complaint was not made for personal aggrandisement; it was done to ensure justice for the public. Since we are involved in the legal profession, we are well aware of the ‘irregularities’ in court proceedings.”
An investigation by the Bangladesh Post uncovered that on August 13, Sheikh Golam Mahbub was initially transferred to the Law Commission, followed by his appointment as a judge in the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal in Kushtia on August 29.
Insiders said that Mahbub arranged these transfers to shield himself from scrutiny after the Awami League-led government was toppled on August 5. He is now residing comfortably in Kushtia, far from the spotlight.
One, Rabiul Islam, also an advocate associated with the family of Sheikh Golam Mahbub, corroborated the allegations. He said, “I am a direct witness to many of the events mentioned in the complaint, and I fully agree with them.”
Rabiul Islam further said, “The Joint Secretary, along with family member Advocate Fatima Akhter and their syndicate, was directly involved in lobbying for financial gain. Sheikh Golam Mahbub conducted all illegal transactions through Fatima Akhter, and when purchasing property, he took the assistance of his sisters, Sajida Banu, Shirin Akhter, and their associate Morsheda Rahman Khan.”
The complaint highlighted how this group misused power, with Fatima Akhter, often appointed as a Civil Commissioner in many cases in various courts, including those in Dhaka’s district judge’s court. By leveraging her position, Fatima allegedly used her influence in trial proceedings also. According to the written complaint, these three family members were appointed panel lawyers in various banks, including City Bank, Basic Bank, Mercantile Bank, NCC Bank, Standard Bank, Meghna Bank and others, through the influence of Sheikh Golam Mahbub.
In addition, Fatima Akhter has been appointed Civil Commissioner in most civil cases in Dhaka’s Joint District Judge (Second, Third, Fourth and Seventh), Land Survey Tribunal, Environment Court and Senior Assistant Judge’s (Savar) courts, the complaint added.
The complaint cites a 2009 case involving Fortuna Apparels Limited, in which Fatima was appointed as a Civil Advocate Commissioner, and the company allegedly received undue benefit. The allegations also included fraudulent property registration in Gazipur, facilitated by the syndicate, leading to massive financial gains through tax evasion.
Allegations further suggest that former Joint Secretary Sheikh Golam Mahbub engaged his sister, Advocate Fatima Akhter, as a panel lawyer for Fortuna Group and UHY Syful Shamsul Alam & Co., facilitating lobbying activities in the Land Acquisition (LA) division.
One Aziz, who oversees cases for UHY Syful Shamsul Alam & Co., told the Bangladesh Post, “Fatima Akhter was engaged as a court commissioner in one of our cases; we had no role in that, as it was a court decision.”
However, lawyers claim that the former Joint Secretary was behind everything. Despite lacking at least five years of experience, Fatima Akhter was appointed a civil commissioner in many cases through the influence of her brother.
In several cases, including case numbers 222/2010, 1094/2010, and 1009/12 at the Fourth Joint District Judge’s Court and the Land Survey Tribunal in Dhaka, the former Joint Secretary misused his influence to engage his sister, Advocate Fatima Akhter, as a commissioner, who allegedly made a mint.
The complaint also states that Mahbub influenced higher authorities in the ministry to ensure Fatima’s appointment as a commissioner in numerous civil cases.
A review of the Dhaka Land Survey Tribunal registry confirmed that Fatima Akhter was appointed as Advocate Commissioner in most civil cases.
The allegations further stated that Mahbub’s syndicate included key figures such as Judge Alamgir Hossain, former Judge Masudur Rahman of the Fourth Joint District Judge Court, Zakir Hossain Tipu of the Environmental Court, and Zakir Hossain Siam of the Savar Senior Assistant Judge’s Court. Under Mahbub’s influence, these judges appointed Fatima as Advocate Commissioner, allegedly reaping financial benefit.
The complaint further states that the former Joint Secretary allegedly earned millions of taka by influencing bail granting and dismissals in criminal cases. Fatima Akhter and court agent Advocate Anwar Hossain handled monetary transactions with plaintiffs seeking favourable results.
Recently, one defendant, Abdur Rahman, filed a complaint to the Dhaka Bar Association that the extorted Tk 32 lakh. Advocate Anwar Hossain, the defendant’s lawyer, promised acquittal for one of the key defendants in case number 04/2020 at the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-8 in exchange for money. However, when the defendant was not acquitted, Rahman filed the complaint.
Regarding the complaint, Advocate Anwar Hossain told the Bangladesh Post, “The extortion of Tk 32 lakh complaint at the Dhaka Bar Association has been settled. The issue was raised to discredit me in court. I have never spoken to Sheikh Golam Mahbub in person or over the phone, but I know his sister, Advocate Fatima Akhter, as a fellow lawyer.”
Advocate Fatima Akhter refuted all accusations, calling them baseless. She said, “The court is responsible for appointing commissioners in the Land Survey Tribunal. The allegations against me have no merit and were made maliciously by Advocate Rabiul Islam.”
She added that Rabiul had previously worked as a junior in her chambers and had connections with her family.
She further claimed that Rabiul is spreading false information out of anger, as her brother, Joint Secretary Sheikh Golam Mahbub, refused to intervene in a rape case filed against Rabiul at the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal-5.
Attempts to reach former Joint Secretary Sheikh Golam Mahbub for comment via email, phone, and in person at his flat in Dhaka’s Lalmatia were failed.
In a conversation with the Bangladesh Post, Assistant Attorney General Ibrahim Khalil mentioned that the syndicate was led at different times by influential figures like former Minister Anisul Haque, Secretary Md Golam Sarwar (now OSD), former Joint Secretary (Administration-1) Bikash Kumar Saha, former Joint Secretary (Budget) Humayun Kabir, and Joint Secretary (Administration-2) Sheikh Golam Mahbub, among others.
He further said that those who did not comply with the syndicate’s demands faced departmental cases, dismissals, or forced retirements.
