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Published : 24 Jul 2025, 10:14 PM
The Anti-Corruption Commission has said none of the 15 drivers from former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s office, who were allocated plots in Keraniganj’s Jhilmil Residential Project, had demonstrated the required “outstanding contribution” for such allocation.
According to the ACC, over 100 plots in the RAJUK-run housing project were allocated under the category of “extraordinary contribution to the state”.
The plots are legally intended for government officials, public servants, and professionals whose work is considered to hold national importance.
In 2024, the Ministry of Housing and Public Works directed RAJUK to allocate plots to these 15 drivers, despite them “not meeting” the criteria set under Clause 13/A of the Dhaka Improvement Trust (Allotment of lands) Rules, 1969.
The irregularities reportedly came to light during an ACC enforcement drive on Wednesday.
WHAT ACC FOUND
ACC Director General Md Akhtar Hossain said on Thursday that a team had investigated RAJUK’s records and found that the plots were meant to be allocated only to individuals fitting the four categories defined in Clause 13/A of the 1969 rules.
The commission’s inspection of RAJUK’s files revealed that 15 drivers -- serving under the deposed prime minister’s assistant private secretaries 1 and 2, special assistant, chief secretary, protocol officer, and chief photographer -- were granted plots of three and five kathas.
The allocation was approved by the then RAJUK board based on a letter sent by the housing and public works ministry.
WHAT THE LAW SAYS
Under a government notification from the housing ministry, the RAJUK land allotment rules were amended to allow allocations to individuals in three specific categories.
These include those who are current or former ministers, state ministers or deputy ministers; current or former members of parliament; or those who have made outstanding contributions to the state or in any nationally important field.
The third category extends to professionals, freedom fighters, direct family members of martyred freedom fighters, and social workers -- along with other individuals whom the government may recognise from time to time.
The rules also require that allotment applications must be submitted by the eligible individuals themselves and that any allocation must be backed by a government recommendation.
During the ACC’s investigation, no documentation was found to support any claim of “outstanding contribution” by the drivers from Hasina’s office.
The nomination papers contained no justification, qualifications or official recognition supporting such status.
The special allotment list under Clause 13/A for the Jhilmil Project also included nearly 45 businessmen, two foreign nationals, government officers, Public Service Commission members, a driver of the Public Works Department, journalists, teachers, former prime minister’s staff, private-sector employees, copywriters, lawyers, judges and members of parliament.
The national anti-graft agency said a letter signed by the the joint secretary Md Mizanur Rahman of the housing and public works ministry, dated Feb 7, 2024, had instructed the RAJUK chairman to allocate plots to the drivers.
“Following applications from 15 drivers working at the Prime Minister’s Office, the prime minister has approved the allocation of a three-katha plot for every two applicants and a five-katha plot for every group of three,” the letter read.
DRIVERS WHO RECEIVED PLOTS
• Md Saiful Islam, VVIP driver
• Md Safiqul Islam, VVIP driver
• Md Nurul Islam Liton, VVIP ambulance driver
• Md Rajon Madbor, Principal Secretary’s driver
• Md Mahbub Hossain, secretary’s driver
• Md Shahin, assistant private secretary-1’s driver
• Md Motiur Rahman, assistant private secretary-2’s driver
• Md Nur Hossain Bepari, assistant private secretary-1’s driver
• Md Borhan Uddin, assistant private secretary-2’s driver
• Md Belal Hossain, driver to the then special assistant Mashiur Rahman Humayun
• Md Mizanur Rahman, chief photographer’s driver
• Md Bacchu Hawlader, the then prime minister’s protocol officer-1’s driver
• Md Nurul Alam, assigned to carry files for assistant private secretary-1
• Md Nurnobi (Emon), driver to the then special assistant Biplob Barua
• Md Shahin, the then prime minister’s protocol officer-2’s driver
Akhtar said, “According to SRO conditions, either the applicant must apply to the ministry or the government must take a decision. In these nomination letters sent by the ministry, none of the selected names show any trace of ‘exceptional contribution.’
“That requirement was also missing from the allocation order,” he added.
