Dhaka: In November 2020, Habib Hasan, Joint General Secretary of the Metropolitan North Awami League, was elected as a member of parliament in the by-election for Dhaka-18 constituency. In just 3 years and 2 months after being elected as an MP, the amount of cash increased 11 times. And during this time, this Member of Parliament has built a mountain of wealth by grabbing and extorting money.
In the election affidavit, Habib Hasan mentioned a house in his own name. And the source of income was shop rent. His annual income in that sector was Tk. 10 lakh 64 thousand 712. In 2020, he had Tk. 11 lakh 46 thousand 744 in his bank, in 2024 it increased to Tk. 1 crore 40 lakh, which is 11 and a half times in 2024 compared to 2020.
In the affidavit, it can be seen that Habib Hasan became the owner of two to six plots. During this time, Habib became the owner of 6 cars from 2 cars. In 2020, Habib Hasan's bank loan was Tk. 2 crore 47 lakh. He paid off the loan in full in 2024. In 2020, Habib had two plots in Turag. In 2024, he became the owner of a total of three plots. In addition, he has another plot of 15 decimals in Pallabi, Dhaka. In 2024, he became the owner of 13.5 percent of another six-story building in Uttara.
However, Habib used to keep these illegal funds in a relative's house instead of keeping them with him. After the fall of the government, the police raided a house in Uttara last September and recovered Tk. 1.16 crore and a large amount of foreign currency. According to Dhaka Metropolitan Police sources, the house where the raid was conducted is the in-laws' house of Habib Hasan's son Abir Hasan. The seized money, foreign currency and cars belong to two MPs Habib Hasan and his family members.
According to local residents, although Habib had flats, plots, markets and luxurious houses in different areas of the capital, he used to handle many things secretly. Habib was a partner in the housing business in Uttara and was involved in extortion. Local residents in Uttara are discussing that a large part of the corruption money has been laundered to Canada. They said that Habib has built houses and businesses in Canada.
Houses and money laundering abroad-
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is continuing its investigation against former MP Habib Hasan from Dhaka-18 constituency. The ACC sent a letter to the relevant institution on September 14, seeking information on the money, property, land and bank accounts in his name. Habib Hasan, by abusing his position as MP and joint general secretary of the Metropolitan North Awami League, got involved in various corruption and immoral activities. He has built up assets worth crores of taka in the name of himself, his wife, son and brothers through irregularities and corruption. Local sources have learned that Habib's son Abir Hasan has purchased a house in Begumpara, Canada for 15 lakh 50 thousand Canadian dollars in the name of Tanim. In addition, he has built up a huge mountain of illegal assets in the country and abroad.
Domination and occupation-
Habib Hasan became an MP in the 2020 by-election. In his election affidavit, he has shown 150 percent of his property as non-agricultural land, which is a little more than three bighas. But in the Baunia area of Turag police station, starting from the side of the Biman runway to Uttara Sector 17, he has declared Habib City in his name and Lee City in his father's name. This vast area is surrounded by a high brick wall. A signboard with the name Latif City is hung on the gate next to Sector 17.
It was found out after investigation that he bought 10 bighas of this himself. He either occupied the rest of the land or took control of the land for a nominal price. Due to the pressure of the MP and his cadre force, the real owner did not get a chance to go near their land.
The victims alleged that Habib offered to register it in his name for 5 to 6 lakh taka per katha. If anyone objected to selling it, he seized the land by threatening, threatening and filing a case. After registering the land from many people, he paid half of the stipulated amount. The remaining half of the money was left to be paid later, and time was taken. Then the creditor would start harassing him if he asked for money on time.
Several illegal bars were established in different sectors of Uttara under Habib's patronage. There, as soon as night fell, there would be energetic dancing and drinking with music. Anti-social activities would also take place. Percentages (MP money) would go to Habib Hasan every month from these bars.
Property increased in name and anonymity-
Within a year of becoming an MP, Habib converted his ancestral house in Uttara into a two-story palace. He built a rickshaw garage, a food hotel and tin shed houses for the lower class on the government land next to it and rented them out. However, those houses are now occupied by BNP leaders and activists. Habib Hasan built a huge eight-story market on his ancestral property next to the Uttara Rajlaxmi Complex.
Apart from this, locals said that Habib has about 20 of his own flats in different sectors of Uttara. Habib has several houses. However, he bought many of them in the names of his family members to hide them from public view.
He used his brother to use force
Of the four brothers, Habib Hasan was the eldest. The elder brother is deceased. The elder brother is Hadim, the younger brother is Sohel. After being elected as an MP, Habib focused on extortion instead of focusing on public welfare work. And his younger brother Salauddin Sohel, who was an MP, used to use Habib's power in the same way. The places where this brother of Habib has put his paws are illegal raw markets in Uttara, extortion in transport (Laguna-auto rickshaw), dish-internet antenna, sidewalk extortion, foot-trading etc.
The committee was announced without holding the elections of the Actors' Welfare Association, not paying the decorator's work in various political programs, extortion in hotels, restaurants, furniture markets, schools and colleges, illegal electricity and gas connection rent, percentage of garbage cleaning, etc. Even if the local residents sold the land, Sohel would take a percentage from it on behalf of Habib. Habib occupied land in Baunia, Uttara and built a market. Sohel established a furniture market on an empty plot of RAJUK on Sonargaon Janpath Road in Sector 11, Uttara. Sohel used to take monthly rent from about 200 furniture shops there, which are now under the control of the leaders and workers of the local BNP and their affiliated organizations. The violence of Habib's force Habib and his brother Sohel's cadre force members would deliver money to their pockets every month. At the local level, separate forces would deliver money to their pockets based on different wards and places. Habib's main tool in land grabbing was Awami League leader Nur Hossain. Ward 51 councilor Shariful Islam and his followers are involved in extortion at the furniture market. Councilor Motaleb is a follower of Habib involved in extortion at Abdullahpur fish market.
Habib, his son Tanim and brother Sohel used to collect Tk. 5 lakh from the kitchen market adjacent to Uttara Sector 10. Nazmul, known as 'Aynabaaz', used to collect extortion at this market. In exchange for money, he used to jail others under his own name. This Nazmul is known as a pistol dealer among the locals. He used to point a pistol at people. RAB raided his house and recovered a huge amount of drugs. Several cases are also ongoing against him.
A leader at the level of secretary of Turag Thana Awami League said that Habib Hasan was desperate to do everything alone. His brother was also like that. Despite being a party MP, he did not do anything for the party leaders and workers. He did not pay attention to the welfare of the local people. He also harassed the party leaders in various ways. Ordinary people have filed many complaints with the police station protesting the land grabbing. There have been many trials and arbitrations. To no avail. Now they are absconding. However, ordinary leaders and activists have suffered losses. After the fall of the government on August 5, Habib and his brothers have been absconding. Although they tried to contact them in various ways, it was not possible.
