Dr Ahmad Kaikaus took charge as Secretary of the Power Division on 22 March 2017. While reviewing several critical files, he was alarmed by what he discovered—evidence of massive corruption involving nearly Tk10,000 crore, all linked to Nasrul Hamid Bipu, the then State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.
He immediately sought an appointment with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He got the appointment that day and PM Sheikh Hasina called him to Ganabhaban that very night. He arrived at Ganabhaban early, files in hand. Sheikh Hasina examined the documents and firmly stated that Bipu must resign. She summoned then Cabinet Secretary Shafiul Alam and ordered him to relay the instruction to Bipu, warning, “Tell Bipu to resign or I’ll remove him myself.”
News of this decision quickly reached Bipu—leaked by domestic staff at Ganabhaban. In response, Bipu urgently contacted Sajeeb Wazed Joy in the US and Ridwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, who was in Bangkok. He informed them that the Prime Minister was furious and set to dismiss him.
Soon after, Sheikh Hasina received calls—first from Joy, pleading, “Mum, please don’t remove Uncle Bipu now.” Then came Bobby’s call. Finally, her younger sister Sheikh Rehana also intervened. Under pressure from the trio, Sheikh Hasina reversed her decision. Two days later, she shared the entire episode in a cabinet meeting, commenting, “As soon as I uncover theft, lobbying starts with Joy, Bobby or Rehana.”
This was Bipu’s source of power—no matter how egregious the corruption, no one could touch him. Any time an investigation emerged, Joy, Bobby, or Rehana would come to his rescue. Investigations reveal this was not due to love or loyalty, but because they all benefited financially from Bipu’s looting. Bobby, in particular, was the closest—his entire household reportedly ran on proceeds from power sector graft.
Following this episode, Bobby flew into Dhaka and met Bipu at the CRI office in Dhanmondi. In early April, they planned a “Let’s Talk” youth event featuring the Prime Minister. Though such events cost around Tk10–12 lakh, Bipu issued a Tk10 crore cheque from his company Priyoprangan to CRI, cashed on 6 April. During the event, banners of Priyoprangan surrounded the venue. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended and, rather than react with concern, joked playfully with Bipu.
To further appease Sheikh Hasina and shield Bipu, Bobby initiated a documentary project on her life. He involved Asiatic’s Iresh Zaker and later met actor Asaduzzaman Noor. Director Piplu Khan, favoured by Asiatic, was chosen. Though such a film would reasonably cost Tk25–30 lakh, Piplu proposed a budget of Tk1 crore. Bobby exaggerated the figure to Bipu, claiming it would cost Tk20 crore. Bipu approved it without hesitation. Piplu received Tk 85 lakh in three instalments and another Tk15 lakh in cash—delivered by Bipu himself. The final documentary featured only a few stock footages and interviews with Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana. Yet this symbolic film effectively whitewashed Bipu’s mountain of corruption.
During this period, Kaikaus, frustrated by Bipu’s impunity, began resisting file approvals. In response, Bipu, backed by Joy and Bobby, flew to the US and allegedly purchased a luxury bungalow in Washington for Kaikaus. This gift, arranged through a key Awami League figure in the US, marked Kaikaus’s shift—from whistleblower to collaborator. After the 2018 elections, he became Principal Secretary to the PM, later emerging as a corruption godfather himself.
Whenever Joy or Bobby had a need, Bipu was their man. He arranged private parties during Joy’s visits, complete with showbiz personalities. Bipu reportedly funded Bobby’s homes in Finland and Bangkok. In February 2019, Bipu travelled to Bangkok under the guise of medical treatment but finalised property deals for Bobby, aided by a defaulting business group known for laundering money into Thailand.
This loyalty to Joy and Bobby allowed Bipu to loot thousands of crores unchallenged. He later boasted, “Even Sheikh Hasina can’t remove me now.” What once seemed like hubris proved true—because Joy and Bobby’s power eclipsed that of the Prime Minister herself.
Though Sheikh Hasina initially opposed appointing Bipu to a third term ahead of the 2024 sham election, lobbying by Joy and Bobby reversed her decision. This time, Bipu was given both the Power and Energy portfolios.
This unholy alliance enabled rampant plunder in the energy sector, devoid of oversight. According to reviewed documents from Bipu’s Singapore-based company Powerco, Bipu funnelled massive sums to Joy—nearly Tk500 crore. Powerco also provides a credit guarantee for Joy’s personal credit card in Singapore.
Shielded by his two godfathers, Bipu looted the power sector with impunity.
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
