Emdadul Haque, better known as Dada Emdad and Assistant Private Secretary (APS) to former Minister Golam Dastgir Ghazi, is under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) for suspected illegal wealth acquisition. The inquiry centers around allegations that Emdad amassed substantial assets during his tenure, primarily in the capital city of Dhaka and his birthplace of Sirajganj.

Emdad, who served as APS for over a decade, has faced accusations of involvement in various illicit activities, including control over the drug trade in Rupganj, Narayanganj. Local residents have described him as wielding more power than the minister himself, influencing economic activities and even public safety in the area.

Despite his modest salary as an APS, Emdad is reported to have accumulated significant wealth, including properties valued in the hundreds of millions of taka.

Mountain of wealth in Sirajganj

Emdadul Haque, hailing from Dargahpara village in Shahjadpur Municipality of Sirajganj, has reportedly seen a dramatic rise in wealth over recent years, drawing scrutiny from both local residents and authorities. Once an ordinary individual, Haque's newfound affluence has sparked speculation about the sources of his wealth, prompting investigations into his financial activities.

Haque is said to possess extensive land holdings and commercial properties, with assets totaling hundreds of millions of taka. Notably, he owns land valued at 12 crore taka in Shahjadpur's Dargahpara ward No. 5, along with 14 shops in Manirampur market and a building with a market value of at least one and a half crore taka.

Huge wealth in Dhaka

In Dhaka, Haque's alleged wealth extends to properties in the residential area of South Banasree. He is reported to own a high-rise building near South Banasree Central Mosque, as well as buildings at 13/3 road, K Block. Additionally, investigations have revealed multiple houses owned by Haque in Basabo, including one with 10 floors and another with six stories.

Details about Haque's assets emerged following conversations with his former supervisor, Saiful, who provided insights into his property holdings. It is believed that Haque resides in the Best Barrack Living Apartment of Basabo, owning two flats on the fifth floor of the building.

Sources said that Emdad has also invested in housing business. 15 percent shares of Rimzhim Abasan in Emdad's name. Apart from this, he took plots anonymously from various housing projects in Rupganj.

In control of illegal gas line connections

In different areas of Rupganj upazila, Emdad connected illegal gas by pulling low-quality pipes from Titas gas distribution line. To provide this connection, Emdad formed a syndicate with Titas' officials and local gangs. As a result of these illegal connections, the government is losing crores of revenue.

Sources said that about one and a half lakh residential and commercial gas connections have been given under the management of Emdad in Rupganj. Among them, most of the buildings and factories around Dhaka-Sylhet highway including Tarab Beribandh, Mograkul, Barab, Khadun, Maikuli, Khidirpur, Nayapara, Baravita, Arafatnagar.

According to local people, one-time payment of 30 to 40 thousand taka is required for each residential connection. If one disconnects, he can get reconnected by paying some money. However, for residential connections, people have to pay a minimum of 2 lakh to 15 lakh taka depending on the gas pressure.

Hasanur Rahman, a resident of Tarab municipality, said, “In coordination with the local administration and Titas, raids were conducted after several months, and illegal connections were disconnected. After the administration leaves, the illegal connections are starts again. If there were no high-level people involved in local politics, illegal connections would not have been possible.”

Emdad's hand in dredger and sand business

After being designated as APS, Emdad gradually took control of the dredger and sand business in Rupganj. In Rupganj, two dredgers are working on sand filling in Bholab, Qutubpur, Mochartaluk Mauza in Rimzhim Abasan.

Due to the power of Emdad, it was not possible to stop the sand filling even after filing a writ in the High Court. Earlier, common people got angry and set the dredger on fire. Emdad's dredger is running in the Asian Duplex Town in the name of editor Munna Khan and Rupganj Upazila Press Club president Momen and general secretary Maqbul Hossain. In the name of Kanchan Paur Mahila Awami League president Samsunnahar, Emdad's dredger is running in American City.

In addition, Emdad has a dredger operating in Eastwood City. Apart from this, it is said that one has to pay 5 percent of the price of sand lifted from all the dredgers in Rupganj to Emdad.

Drug trade

Emdad controls the drug trade of various unions in Rupganj. Jubo League president Kawsar Prodhan, Bashir in Kanchan area and Shaheen Mia (Loha Shaheen) are controlling the drug business of Bholab Union. Shamser Ali aka Daku Shamser in Daudpur, Rupganj Union and Chanpara of Kayetpara. Emdad has also appointed drug dealers in Tarab, Golakandail, Bhulta, Murapara. He collects three to three and a half crore taka per month from these drug dealers.

Extortion

There are four hundreds shop on footpath of Bhulta area. Local Chhatra League and Jubo League members collect 150 to 200 taka daily from these shops. If someone denies to pay the money, than he has to leave the area. Major portion of this extorted money goes to Emdad’s pocket.

Apart from this, Emdad's army collects regular extortion from the transport of various stands on the link roads of Sylhet, Gazipur, Madanpur and Dhaka. Drivers have to pay a minimum of 50 taka and a maximum of 100 taka per vehicle per day.

The Rupganj stand has around 270, 250 and 80 CNG-powered autorickshaws, Lagunas and hired private cars respectively. Out of this, a daily extortion of Tk 50 is collected from each autorickshaw, Tk 60 from Laguna, Tk 100 from private cars. Apart from this, monthly one-time extortion of 1000 to 1500 taka has to be paid.

Taking over the river

Under the guidance of Emdad, local gang leaders are occupying the river land by removing the border pillars of the Shitalakshya River. Emdad and his forces are occupying the banks of the river on both sides of Golam Dastgir Gazi Birpratik Bridge. Both sides of the river of Rupganj Mather Ghat, Darikandi, Baniadi, Atlashpur, Hatab Jelepara, Ichakhali, Paragaon, Boro Alu, Purvagram, Chanpara, Rupsi, Gandhavpur are being occupied and sold to various companies. The land is owned by Afzal Food, NDE Readymix, KPC and Rangdhanu Group, according to the complaint.

(The report was published on print and online versions of The Kaler Kantho on April 30 and rewritten in English by Tanvir Raihan)