Banglavision TV reveals brutality by Adviser Asif Mahmud’s reckless father

Private TV channel Banglavision has created a stir by exposing the devilish father of mob leader-turned-adviser Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain, who has been at the centre of controversies for widespread corruption but is enjoying impunity.

Since taking oath as the adviser, Asif Mahmud has created controversies for excessive spending of public money on travels by using helicopters, helping his father, schoolteacher Billal Hossain, acquire a contractor license from his ministry, and corruption in the recruitment of Wasa, Dhaka City Corporation, BPL, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), and other crimes.

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Moazzem Hossain, Asif’s former assistant personal secretary (APS) and a student coordinator, was removed from duty in the wake of corruption charges. Later, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) launched an investigation. Based on its application, a Dhaka court blocked Moazzem’s NID and imposed a ban on his foreign travel.

Asif Mahmud has been under fire for refusing to hold the oath-taking ceremony of mayor-elect BNP leader Ishraque Hossain, who said that the adviser lost his moral right to continue as the adviser due to presenting false and misleading information to the media and for violating his oath of office.

In late June, the immigration police at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport seized a magazine loaded with ammunition from Asif Mahmud, who was travelling to Morocco via Turkey.

During the pre-boarding screening in the morning, the magazine was found in the pouch (small bag) the adviser was carrying. After identifying the magazine, Asif Mahmud said that it had accidentally been in the luggage. He expressed regret over the incident. He also sent the magazine to his protocol officer.

The government later said he had acquired the license as per the law in December last year.

In March, Asif Mahmud told a TV channel that if the student leaders had not succeeded in overthrowing the Awami League government on August 5, they might have called for an armed movement.

Amid controversy over his schoolteacher father acquiring a license from the same ministry, Asif Mahmud trivialised it as a minor mistake.

Billal Hossain has been campaigning for his son’s election race from the Muradnagar constituency, which is a stronghold of BNP leader Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaikobad.

A five-time MP from the area, Kaikobad returned to Bangladesh last year after 13 years.

In a video, Billal was seen telling an audience that a donation of Tk10 lakh was given to the local mosques on behalf of his son. After the controversy, Asif Mahmud clarified that the amount was allocated under his LGRD Ministry through the Upazila Administration.

Reckless father’s vengeful actions

On September 17 last year, a shocking incident took place at Yakub Ali Bhuiyan Public High School in Akubpur of Muradnagar of Cumilla.

Shikha Rani, the assistant principal of the school, was the victim.

On that day, she was locked in a room at the school and pressured to resign. When she did not agree, inhuman torture was inflicted on her at one stage. She was locked in that room for more than six hours and tortured, even by stripping her naked.

Later, she was taken out of the school and paraded around the main roads of the village.

The video was spread on social media. In that video, the group of people harassing Shikha Rani includes the school’s headmaster, Billal Hossain.

Shikha Rani said: “When Asif’s father Billal Hossain was expelled in 2014 on charges of embezzling school money, I became the acting headmaster. That was my crime. I was happy after my student Asif became an adviser. But his father was expressing anger towards me. He tortured me with the Shimul chairman, Sattar member, Salauddin and Bashars.”

When she went to file a case against the culprits, including Shimul Chairman and Billal Hossain, the police station did not take the case.

Shikha Rani alleged that when she filed a case in court, it was dismissed.

The complaint of local businessman Mohammad Ali, the then president of the school, is almost the same. Billal Hossain took revenge against him, as Ali had taken action against him for an embezzlement incident.

Ali said that when Billal Hossain was the headmaster, he forged the signatures of the assistant headmaster and me (the chairman of the managing committee) and withdrew Tk5,25,000.

“Our committee and the Ministry of Education repeatedly asked him for an account, but he could not give it. For these reasons, he was dismissed from the post of headmaster. Now, after his son became an advisor, he has been harassing my family physically, mentally, and financially.”

Ali claimed that he was arrested by the police from Chittagong and subjected to extreme torture in the name of remand. Later, he had to be released by Billal Hossain’s associate Masud after paying Tk30 lakh and a bond not to participate in any social work in the village.

In addition, the farmer alleged that Billal Hossain and his people occupied the pond of local fish farmer Dulal Chandra and cut down his trees.

Shimul Chairman, Sattar Member, Salauddin, Masud and Bashar were involved in this incident.

Triple murder

On July 3, Rikta Akhter’s mother Ruby Akhter, brother Russell and sister Jonaki were hacked to death and stoned to death in front of her eyes in the Karaibari of Bangra Bazar in Muradnagar.

Her younger sister Ruma Akhter, who was seriously injured in the incident, is currently battling for her life in a hospital in the capital. Her brother’s 11-month-old baby Raisa was also not spared from the attack by the terrorists.

Rikta Akhter and sister-in-law Mim Akhter somehow managed to escape by hiding in the toilet. But after the incident, the accused were supposed to be absconding, but the victim’s family is on the run. Rikta Akhter alleges that the main accused in the murder case, local Awami League leader and UP Chairman Shimul Billah, is in the shelter of advisor Asif Mahmud’s father. That is why the police are not arresting them.

Rikta Akhter told Banglavision: “The main accused, including the local chairman Shimul Billah, are still out. The police are not arresting them. They are threatening to kill us from outside. They say they will chop us into hundreds of pieces if they find us. That is why we are running away now.”

They also alleged that the culprits in this incident are in the shelter of Asif Mahmud.

An angel?

Asked about these allegations, Billal Hossain said a picture of him with Shimul Chairman is being spread. “It is being said that I am sheltering triple murderers. Shimul is the running chairman of our union, and I am the headmaster of the school. Naturally, I can sit and talk with him. We can offer tea to each other.

“But at that time, they are trying to make us unnecessarily guilty by taking a picture and spreading it. However, this picture is six months old, and the murder took place on July 3.”

He thinks BNP leader Kaikobad is trying to drag Asif Mahmud into controversy on any issue. They are spreading lies. “We will catch whoever is doing it. I will question them to prove the allegations. If they can’t provide proof, we will sue them for defamation.”

Denying all the allegations, Asif Mahmud claimed that BNP leaders Kaikobad and Ishraque Hossain were spreading propaganda against his family.