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Published : 26 Jan 2026, 07:25 PM
As part of an inquiry into “abuse of power, irregularities, corruption and bribery”, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Mohammad Azaz has been summoned by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for questioning.
He has been asked to appear at the commission’s office on Thursday, ACC said in a notice on Monday.
Deputy Director Md Akhtarul Islam confirmed the matter but did not provide any details.
The ACC’s letter, sent on Jan 22, requested Azaz’s presence to provide statements on multiple issues, including:
● Lease of Gabtoli cattle market
● E-rickshaw project
● Occupancy of Borak Tower or Sheraton Dhaka
● Shop allocations at Banani Bazar
● Construction of shops on parking areas in Khilgaon Talatla Super Market
● City van service
● Footpath shop allocations
● Other matters related to DNCC’s interests
The anti-graft agency has launched an inquiry into allegations against Azaz.
On Nov 27, 2025, the ACC announced the probe, assigning a two-member team led by Assistant Director Md Ashikur Rahman, with Deputy Assistant Director Subimal Chakma as the other member.
Azaz welcomed the investigation, saying: “We will provide all possible cooperation to the ACC in investigating this matter.
“Every person needs to have transparency and accountability. We also want the investigation of the allegations to be transparent.”
Azaz, chairman of the River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC), a private research organisation working on river research, water management, and urban development, was appointed as DNCC administrator in February last year.
Soon after taking office, he faced criticism over the cancellation of the lease tender for the Gabtoli cattle market.
In April, an ACC team raided his office after receiving allegations of irregularities.
The commission termed the cancellation of the lease an “error”, saying it created a risk of significant revenue loss for the government.
During the raid, the team questioned Azaz and members of the tender evaluation committee and collected relevant documents.
At that time, an ACC statement said initial allegations of government revenue loss were found through irregularities in the lease tender for the Gabtoli cattle market.
It also reported finding the highest bid for the 2025 cattle market lease was about Tk 220 million, far higher than the government’s fixed price of Tk 146 million.
Although the evaluation committee recommended awarding the lease to the highest bidder, it was cancelled, and a decision was taken to collect “special fees”, citing the absence of a notice on the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA) website.
Citing expert opinion, the ACC said cattle market leases do not fall under government procurement policy and therefore do not require notice on the website.
The commission also added that the team conducting the probe has submitted a report, seeking guidance on the next steps after finding preliminary evidence of the tender cancellation in an “untransparent” process.
