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There are also allegations that his father, Abdus Salam Mridha, spent millions of rupees to become the Kamalapur Union Parishad chairman, alleging that he bribed Awami League leaders.

On September 2, a resident of his home region filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), demanding an investigation into alleged corruption by Chunnu amounting to 20 billion taka.

An ACC official confirmed this, speaking on condition of anonymity to TBS, “We have received complaints regarding Chunnu. We are currently looking into the allegations and details will be shared once an investigation is launched.”

This correspondent also received a copy of the complaint.

Despite these serious allegations, Chunnu was transferred from Division 4 of the Dhaka State Police to Faridpur on September 17, just two months after his previous transfer.

TBS investigation revealed that Chunnu’s assets include two brick factories named Al Nahian and New Nahian in Patuakhali Sadar, a two-storey house on Patuakhali College Road and at least 10 acres of land in his native Kamalapur Union area of ​​South Dharandi village.

He also owns a clothing showroom called Nexus in Patuakhali, a 10-katha plot in Savar and two apartments on Central Road and Bailey Road in Dhaka. He also has many other assets registered under different names.

Hasibul Islam, a resident of Chunnu village in Dharandi, told TBS: “The Chunnu family had nothing. In the last 15 years, during the Awami League government, they became incredibly rich. Chunnu built a college in front of his house and used it to influence local elections.”

Locals also allege that after the fall of the previous government, Chunnu sent his sister and brother-in-law, Zobair Hossain Russell, to Canada, allegedly using them to facilitate the transfer of dollars abroad.

Russell contested the parliamentary elections on behalf of the BNF in Baufal, Patuakhali and previously served as secretary of the Patuakhali Swechchaasebak League.

Chunnu denies all accusations, claiming they are part of a conspiracy to frame him.

He told TBS: “None of these claims are true. The brickworks, houses and land are hereditary property.”

Regarding his father’s chairmanship, he said: “My father has contested seven elections and is the leader of the BNP, serving as union chairman and district vice-chairman. People elected him chairman out of sympathy for him.”

He has not commented on accusations that he sent his sister and brother-in-law to Canada.

His brother-in-law could not be contacted and locals say he fled after the fall of the Hasina government.

Connection with Moll

On July 16, during student protests, a person wearing a helmet was seen shooting directly at students at Dhaka University. The person was later identified as contractor Hasan Molla. After the fall of the previous government, Molla went into hiding.

Several PWD officials said the collaboration between Chunnu and Hasan Molla started when Chunnu was working at Division 4 in Dhaka.

Molla, a resident of Gopalganj with close links to the Awami League, helped cover up Chunnu’s misdeeds in exchange for lucrative contracts, they said. Despite often failing to deliver on projects, Chunnu secured payments from Hasan, which they then split.

A PWD engineer told TBS that when he was serving in Division 4, Chunnu assigned Molli to do maintenance work at Mugda Hospital.

“Though payments have been made, the work remains unfinished. Molla also received projects from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but they too were not executed properly. Despite the lack of progress, there was no problem in paying bills to Molla,” he added.

PWD sources said Molla, as general secretary of Dhaka PWD Contractors Association, had misappropriated millions of dollars in public funds with the connivance of local officials. Several other officials have also been named in the case, leading to ongoing investigations.

Referring to Molli Chunnu, he said, “I was there (Division-4) for only a year, while Hasan Mollah was there for 15 years. How could I be part of a syndicate with him? The group is spreading these lies against me; whatever they say is untrue.”

Complaints in PWD

Chunnu is accused of creating a vast corruption network within the PWD, allegedly amassing illegal assets worth hundreds of millions of rupees through various forms of misconduct, including recruitment, transfers, tender manipulation and embezzlement of funds for projects that were never completed.

While serving as executive engineer of Mirpur division, Chunnu awarded a contract to a construction company to renovate the old PWD training centre in Mirpur, according to documents obtained by TBS.

However, on August 23 last year, the Ministry of Housing and Public Works received complaints of fraud and irregularities as no works were completed despite funds being allocated for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

In 2022, while still in Mirpur Division, Chunnu received Tk 12 crore for 176 job applications. There are allegations that due to the relatively new condition of most of the buildings in the residential area, he found limited scope to utilise these funds, allegedly misappropriating a significant portion of them.