Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, the former mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation and a member of the influential Sheikh family, is facing serious allegations of amassing illegal wealth and laundering money through fictitious fish farming ventures.
Once admired for his integrity and modesty, Taposh is now at the centre of multiple graft allegations involving fake business declarations, large-scale land grabbing, and financial irregularities tied to his family and associates.
According to documents obtained by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Taposh and his wife Afrin Taposh declared over Tk102 crore in profits from fish farming in Gopalganj—land where no fish farms were found during on-site inspections. Investigators say the couple used these falsified profits to justify lavish spending, including share purchases worth Tk132 crore in Modhumoti Bank and Bangladesh Bank.
In addition to questionable income disclosures, Taposh has been accused of grabbing around 300 homes in Dhaka’s Kamrangirchar area. ACC sources allege that he carried out the land occupation with the help of two city magistrates, Md Moniruzzaman and Md Jahangir Alam, as well as ruling party supporters.
The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) froze the bank accounts of Taposh, his wife, and their affiliated businesses on 8 October after identifying suspicious financial transactions. Afrin reportedly moved nearly Tk71 crore through nine local accounts and a foreign currency account, raising further suspicion.
A separate writ petition—filed by rights lawyer Manzill Morshed seeking protection of the Buriganga River—was allegedly exploited by Taposh to legitimise the eviction of low-income residents and seize land under the pretext of development.
Despite being summoned by the ACC for questioning on 24 October, Taposh has not responded. He left the country on 3 August, citing medical reasons, and has not returned since.
The ACC’s findings also reveal that both Taposh and Afrin claimed separate earnings from the same leased ponds. Taposh declared Tk95.24 crore in income, while Afrin claimed Tk7.56 crore—all from the same property in Tungipara, Gopalganj, over a three-year period. Locals, however, told investigators that no fish farming ever took place there, and the land is mainly homesteads and gardens.
Afrin, who identified herself as a businesswoman, could not substantiate her declared income of Tk34.9 crore, which includes Tk5.84 crore received as a “gift” from her husband in 2017-18 and a significant amount in gold and property assets. Her actual business activity remains unclear.
According to the ACC, Afrin illegally acquired wealth worth Tk6.4 crore, while Taposh is accused of accumulating Tk73.19 crore beyond his known sources of income. Both offences fall under Section 27(1) of the ACC Act, 2004. Additionally, Afrin's unexplained transactions may also constitute a violation of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.
Taposh, once dubbed the “white-collar barrister” by his mentor, the late Barrister Rafique-ul Huq, rose from humble beginnings to prominence during the political turmoil of 1/11. His dramatic transformation—from respected legal professional to a central figure in one of the country’s most high-profile corruption cases—has shocked many who once admired his integrity.
Bd-pratidin English/TR
