Did Tarique Ahmed Siddique turn out to be a monstrous kleptocrat throughout Sheikh Hasina’s rule?

Main Common (retired) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, the previous safety affairs adviser to the ousted authoritarian ruler Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, stands on the heart of quite a few allegations, marking a fancy legacy shadowed by accusations of energy misuse and private achieve. From land grabbing to orchestrating the illegal detention of opposition figures, Siddique’s actions paint a controversial image of one in all Bangladesh’s most polarizing figures. As we study the quite a few allegations in opposition to him, the implications for governance, transparency, and the affect of household ties in Bangladeshi politics come to the fore.

One of the vital highlighted allegations in opposition to Siddique includes a particularly priceless prime piece of land within the coronary heart of Dhaka’s Hatirjheel space. This priceless property, allegedly acquired by means of Prochachaya Restricted (Incorporation certificates quantity C-75659/09, dated March 28, 2009), an organization linked to Siddique’s spouse Shaheen Siddiqui – was later offered to Nasa Group, a controversial enterprise conglomerate, for over 5 billion Bangladeshi takas.

The Registration Quantity and Memorandum and Articles of Affiliation of Prochhaya Restricted had been issued by means of the Certificates of Incorporation by the Registrar of Joint Inventory Corporations and Corporations, Authorities of the Individuals’s Republic of Bangladesh on 25 March 2009 by means of its Situation Quantity 27052-58. The Registration Variety of Prochhaya Restricted is C-75659/09. Commerce License of Prochhaya Restricted was issued by Dhaka Metropolis Company, Dhaka on 09 April 2009 by means of its Situation Quantity 1243. The Commerce License Variety of the corporate is 0434843.

Following unlawful occupation of the land at Hatirjheel space, on the direct directions of Main Common (retired) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Ansar camp was set on the property whereas prime officers of nation’s intelligence businesses performed function in defending this unlawful occupation.

Sources declare that a good portion of this sum was smuggled in a foreign country and invested in actual estates in London, Dubai and different cities. If true, the involvement of such high-profile figures in an alleged unlawful land seize and cash laundering factors to a regarding abuse of energy. The sale, alleged unlawful export of funds, and subsequent overseas investments embody a stark departure from the moral tasks of public workplace bearers. Not solely that this corruption was first reported by distinguished journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury in Blitz, who was later arrested on November 8, 2012 by means of a false case filed by Prochchaya Restricted and detained illegally for greater than 6 years and stored 5 years in a condemned cell by violating the Jail Codes. This additionally was a critical violation of human rights.

In July 2018, Shoaib Choudhury was launched from jail beneath situation that he should give up his passport to the Directorate Common of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) and “abide by directions from the company” and “assist Awami League authorities with media marketing campaign”. Till date, Choudhury’s passport stays with DGFI, thus proscribing him from travelling overseas.

Valuable land in Dhaka’s Hatirjheel space occupied by Prochhaya Restricted, an organization owned by Shaheen Siddiqui, spouse of Tarique Ahmed Siddique – Photograph BLiTZ

One other critical accusation ties Tarique Ahmed Siddique to the kidnapping and mistreatment of Col. (retired) Md Tauhidul Islam Chowdhury, a key safety determine related to the BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. Chowdhury was reportedly kidnapped from his residence by plainclothes officers in late 2018, held incommunicado for 2 days, and jailed beneath what has been described as “pretend instances”. Regardless of Chowdhury’s eventual launch, no police motion was taken to analyze his detention, resulting in a lawsuit in opposition to Siddique and a number of other high-ranking safety officers. This incident, if confirmed, suggests a troubling sample of utilizing the state equipment to silence political opposition.

Past the direct allegations of economic misconduct, Siddique’s affect reportedly prolonged to surveillance and information breaches. By way of the controversial Nationwide Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC), which acquired help from the blacklisted know-how agency Tiger IT, Tarique Siddique allegedly facilitated mass surveillance on residents.

Tiger IT, banned from World Financial institution initiatives as a result of corruption costs, continued to function inside Bangladesh beneath patronage of Sheikh Hasina’s Safety Advisor. This oversight allegedly allowed Tiger IT to retain management over vital initiatives, like these for the Bangladesh Highway Transport Authority (BRTA), even blocking open tender processes for brand new distributors. The usage of surveillance instruments in opposition to civilians and opponents exemplifies a stage of governmental overreach detrimental to democratic rules.

Past home affect, experiences counsel Siddique and his spouse had been concerned in in depth cash laundering, channeling tens of millions into international locations like Canada and america. Their funding connections reportedly embrace Tusuka Group, a neighborhood industrial big, the place Siddique’s affect supposedly ensured the appointment of firm representatives to distinguished positions inside banking and politics. Tusuka Group’s administrators, as an illustration, acquired appointments to the board of a non-public financial institution and a parliamentary seat, positions allegedly facilitated by Siddique. These revelations emphasize the extent of Siddique’s alleged community of affect and monetary achieve, which many argue had been solely made potential by his shut ties to Hasina’s authorities.

Tarique Ahmed Siddique’s prolonged household’s involvement in questionable acquisitions of energy property highlights one other controversial side of his community. An influence plant established by the Malaysian firm Westmont Group confronted allegations of pressured takeover by Shafique Ahmed Siddique, the husband of Hasina’s sister Sheikh Rehana and Siddique’s brother. Westmont’s managing director complained to Hasina herself, claiming that Shafique had taken management of the plant by means of solid paperwork, halting manufacturing within the course of.

In accordance with data, Malaysian investor and proprietor of Westmont Energy [Bangladesh] restricted, Dato Sri Joseph Chong submitted a written criticism on August 17, 2011 to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and despatched copy of this letter to all main information businesses and newspapers on the earth, in addition to Nation Consultant, World Financial institution; Nation Consultant, UNDP; Nation Consultant, Asian Improvement Financial institution and all overseas missions in Bangladesh. Surprisingly, that letter merely disappeared from the PM’s workplace on the direct intervention of Tarique Siddique.

Camp of regulation enforcement company to protect a treasured land in Dhaka’s Hatirjheel space occupied by Prochhaya Restricted, an organization owned by Shaheen Siddiqui, spouse of Tarique Ahmed Siddique – Photograph BLiTZ

Within the letter titled ‘Compelled occupation of Westmont Energy [Bangladesh] restricted’, Dato Sri Joseph Chong wrote:

Kindly observe, that some individuals, who’re shut family of your type self, beneath the direct patronization of Prof. Shafique Ahmed Siddique [House #1 , Road#127, Gulshan 1, Dhaka] the husband of Sheikh Rehana and brother of the Defence Advisor to Your Kindself, have forcefully taken over our firm, Westmont Energy [Bangladesh] Restricted [WPBL]; together with our workplace in Dhaka and the barge mounted energy plant at Baghabari in phases by fabricating and falsifying paperwork. Their botched and compelled takeover has resulted within the full shutdown of the facility plant at Baghabari.

Prof. Shafique Ahmed Siddique, who believes within the LAW OF THE JUNGLE, is being assisted on this soiled act, by Mr. Hasan Mahmood Raja of United Group and Mr. Md. Haroon Ar-Rashid. All possession paperwork they’re exhibiting to Ministry, BPDB, courts and many others are false and fabricated.

Hon. Prime Minister, within the current circumstances solely your direct intervention can save the state of affairs and convey a lawful and authorized conclusion to the issue. We request your type instruction to Bangladesh Energy Improvement Board [BPDB] to cease all dealings with Mr. Hasan Mahmood Raja and Mr. Md. Haroon Ar-Rashid AND all funds to WPBL with quick impact; Failing which Your Honorable type self and Your Authorities will probably be answerable for all penalties thereof.

Regardless of the completely false and fabricated nature of their claims – however as Prof Shafiq Ahmed Siddique is the husband of your solely sister, Sheikh Rehana and brother of your Defence Advisor, due to this fact I feel will probably be truthful to order a global arbitration [or a court action] in London, United Kingdom to confirm their claims of possession if any. Kindly additionally observe that Your Authorities and BPDB is sure by worldwide legal guidelines due to the sovereign ensures furnished by Authorities of Bangladesh to WPBL, due to this fact it’s pertinent that BPDB and your Authorities ought to cease coping with the disputants till the matter is resolved.

This incident underscores how familial connections in Bangladeshi politics can seemingly facilitate the illegal acquisition of property and affect, elevating questions concerning the intersection of public workplace and personal pursuits.

In September 2010, Tarique Siddique’s spouse and her associates established a readymade garment manufacturing unit in Dhaka, beneath the identify and title of Sujan Apparels Restricted. Commerce License of Sujan Apparels Restricted was issued by Dhaka Metropolis Company, Dhaka on 20 September 2010 by means of its Situation Quantity 87. The Commerce License Variety of Sujan Apparels Restricted is 0325500. The Tax Identification Quantity [TIN] of Sujan Apparels Restricted is 036-201-7889/CO-5, which was issued by Tax Zone-2, Dhaka and Corporations Circle-5 on 22 September 2010. Giant sum of cash was invested on this enterprise enterprise.

Tarique Ahmed Siddique and his spouse Shaheen Siddiqui are additionally accused of constructing fortunes by means of commission-based offers involving varied authorities contracts. These offers, allegedly backed by Hasina’s authorities, allowed the couple to safe substantial kickbacks and direct enterprise approvals in sectors spanning aviation, infrastructure, and public providers. For instance, Siddique reportedly performed a task in fast-tracking the approval of personal airways and acquiring loans for favored firms, underscoring his deep entrenchment in each governmental and company realms. This sample of awarding contracts to non-public allies reinforces considerations about systemic corruption throughout the authorities.

The allegations in opposition to Tarique Ahmed Siddique mirror greater than mere cases of corruption; they reveal a disturbing sample of energy misuse, nepotism, and monetary exploitation. From land grabs to surveillance abuse, his actions, if substantiated, painting a kleptocratic method to governance—whereby energy is wielded not for public profit, however for private and household achieve.

The bigger concern this narrative poses to Bangladeshi society lies within the affect of familial networks inside governance. With the shut relationship between Siddique and Hasina, and the alleged safety his household acquired, it underscores how political loyalty can typically override accountability. If figures like Siddique can function unchecked, with allegations of the whole lot from illegal detention to billion-dollar cash laundering schemes, the implications for the rule of regulation in Bangladesh are profound.

The shifting of property overseas, in depth surveillance on residents, and aggressive suppression of political opposition all counsel that kleptocracy, quite than democracy, might have been the underlying ideology. With Siddique and his household beneath scrutiny, Bangladesh’s dedication to transparency and truthful governance stands at an important crossroads. it’s time to convey the kleptocrats beneath scrutiny and flourish the democracy and rule of regulation in Bangladesh.

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