Staff Reporter: Nearly Tk 50 crore worth of illegal assets have been discovered in the name of Mohabbat Ali, Vice Chairman of Laksam Upazila and brother-in-law of former Local Government Minister Tajul Islam.
According to local sources, Mohabbat Ali has acquired around Tk 50 crore worth of properties under his own and proxy names in various mouzas (land areas) of Kolmakanda Sadar Union, Ward 8 Rangchhati Union, and Ward 6 Kharnai Union in Kolmakanda Upazila of Netrokona district.
A field investigation reveals that Mohabbat Ali married Reshmi, the daughter of an indigenous (Garo) woman named Alisha from the border village of Patlaban in Rangchhati Union. This marital link facilitated Mohabbat Ali’s frequent visits to Kolmakanda. Reshmi’s Christian mother passed away, and her father Alisha later remarried in Meghalaya, India, where he now resides. Reshmi and her brother grew up in their maternal grandparents’ home and, due to poverty, she moved to Dhaka for work.
There, she met and married Mohabbat Ali—despite him already having a Muslim wife and children in Laksam. It is unclear whether Mohabbat converted to Christianity or Reshmi to Islam. However, Mohabbat has reportedly purchased a luxurious bungalow and vast lands under various names near Reshmi’s ancestral home.
Locals of Patlaban recognize Mohabbat as a wealthy contractor and businessman based in Dhaka. However, they were unaware that he was a former Vice Chairman of Laksam and the brother-in-law of a former minister.
Between August 5 and August 8, 2024, Mohabbat Ali was seen in Patlaban, which raised suspicions among locals. Sources claim that he regularly socialized at “Ayaan Enterprise,” a shop owned by Nazmul Hossain Rony in Baruakona Bazaar, where he once allegedly brought in sacks full of cash by car and stored them in the shop.
According to sources, Tajamul Islam Sarkar (Vendor), the general secretary of the Rangchhati Union BNP, along with Rony Miah (owner of Ayaan Enterprise), Awami League leaders Abu Sayeed Khan, Abdul Hannan, and Abdur Rashid, as well as BNP activist Khokon Miah, allegedly assisted Mohabbat in crossing into India in exchange for large sums of money.
Tajamul Islam is said to have played a central role in the purchase, registration, and maintenance of Mohabbat’s assets. Rumors suggest he has received over Tk 3 crore and registered several properties in his own name.
Once a radio mechanic turned deed writer, Tajamul has reportedly used Mohabbat’s influence during the tenure of the Awami League government to his advantage and amassed significant wealth.
Locals claim Rony Miah was essentially Mohabbat’s cashier or manager. They say that on August 7, Mohabbat brought two sacks of money to Rony’s shop in a private car, falsely claiming they contained rice.
As suspicions grew, Mohabbat was allegedly helped to flee by his associates. Locals believe an investigation into the past and current financial conditions of Tajamul and Rony Miah could reveal more about Mohabbat’s hidden assets and cash holdings.
Tajamul Islam (Vendor) confirmed that he prepared three property deeds for approximately 40–45 kathas of land for Mohabbat Ali. Nazmul Hossain Rony admitted he oversaw construction of the lavish bungalow at Mohabbat’s in-laws’ place and stated that he had a business relationship with him, last seeing him on August 6, both in the morning and at night.
Chairman of Rangchhati Union Parishad, Anisur Rahman Pathan (Babul), confirmed that Mohabbat Ali married a Garo woman from Patlaban and indeed purchased a large amount of property in various mouzas of the union.
Reported by: Salim Chowdhury Heera
Laksam
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