DB Harun's property empire in Uttara

Illustration: TBS

With a reputation for "unethical behaviour", Harun Or Rashid, additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and former head of the Detective Branch, was an influential figure during the Awami League government's long tenure.

Behind the scenes, he built a fortune by leveraging his position of power, according to findings by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which launched an inquiry into his affairs after the fall of the AL government on 5 August.

Investigations revealed that he owns 18 properties (land and buildings) in the capital's Uttara alone. These properties are rented out to various foreign and domestic companies, hotels, and markets.

Additionally, he has around a dozen more properties in Gazipur, Savar, and Teknaf.

Millennium Tower, the ten-storey market owned by former DB chief Harun Or Rashid in the capital’s Uttara. The market has been built on Plot-5 which is a 10-katha plot and is located at House-2, Road-7, Sector-3 in Uttara. PHOTO: Syed Zakir Hossain. [Left] The eight-storey building owned by former DB chief Harun at 26/F, Road-20, Sector-3. He lived with his family on the fourth floor. The photo was taken on Monday. Photo: TBS [Right]

As the ACC dug deeper, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) suspended the bank accounts of Harun and his wife Shirin Akhter.

To inquire about the properties, TBS called Harun's phone number multiple times, but he did not answer.

Harun used to reside with his family on the top floor of an eight-storey building on Road 20, Sector 3, Uttara. During a visit on Monday, TBS observed that the building, occupying a 10-katha plot, had no nameplate.

Although TBS reporters were unable to enter the building, locals said the building, House 26/F, owned by Harun, contains two units per floor, most of which are rented out to foreign companies, though it is unclear who collects the rent.

Harun last visited the property on the night of 3 August. After Sheikh Hasina's fall on 5 August, the house was attacked by locals on 5, 9, and 16 August, resulting in vandalism and an assault on the security guard.

Another property, House No 14 on Road 9, Sector 3, Uttara, named Ha-meem, was linked to Harun. It is currently unoccupied. 

The on-duty security guard said the building's owner is a businessman named Golam Hasnain. He refused to provide any more information.

ACC sources told TBS that Harun sold this house to a person named Hiron for Tk32 crore.

A travel agency and hotel named GR MEET and GREET, respectively, are located in a building called Prime Lake View on Road 20, which they are renting. This building was tied to Harun as well but according to the reception, it is owned by a man named Gholam Hasnain.

After obtaining Hasnain's phone number from the reception, TBS attempted to call him, but he did not answer.

Harun's brother, ABM Shahriar, owns the President Resort in Hossainpur village, Mithamain, Kishoreganj.

Despite being registered under Shahriar's name, the resort is alleged to be Harun's. The environmental clearance for the resort expired on 2 November 2023 and has not been renewed.

In Uttara's Sector 3, Harun owns a 10-storey market on a 10-katha plot on Road 7. The ground floor houses a children's clothing store called Baby Shop, while floors two through ten remain vacant.

Additionally, a 7.50-katha commercial plot on Road 9, Sector 3, and a 14-storey under-construction commercial building on 7.34-katha of land on Road 15 were also linked to the former DB chief.

His other Uttara properties are — two 10-katha plots on Road 6, Sector 5; a 5-katha plot on Road 11, Sector 10; the 5th floor of House 4 on Road 12, used as an office by his alleged uncle Jahangir; and a six-storey house (No 21) on Sonargaon Janpath road.

He also owns a five-katha plot, situated next to Uttara Smrity Cable TV Ltd in Sector 11. It is leased to a company named Star Car Selection. 

The land for a five-storey house named Endora on Road 3, Sector 13; Plot 12 on Shah Makhdhum Avenue, and Holding 79 on Sonargaon Janpath Road, rented to an individual named Judge Mia, are owned by Harun as well.

He also owns numerous flats in Uttara Sector 13, adjacent to Zamzam Tower. Additionally, Plots 17 and 19 on Road 20, Sector 14, were rented out as showrooms for four companies.

Many of Harun's houses in Uttara were built with bank loans. According to police and ACC sources, these properties were "seized forcibly from various businessmen under duress" and acquired anonymously by Harun.

Harun is linked to several other businesses, including Sabujpata Resort in Gazipur, recruiting and travel agencies on Road No 3 in Dhaka's Nikunja area, and Nandan Park in Savar.

Harun reportedly grabbed a 20-acre plot next to Banani Cemetery, which he later sold to a company for Tk70 crore, the ACC inquiry found. 

He also owns lands in Tongi. A company named JX Geotex Ltd is constructing a compound on Harun's eight-bigha land in 27 Mauza of Tongi, without approval. A residential hotel is also being built on 12-bigha land within the Chhayakunja-5 residential project in Ashulia Mauza.

Significant land holdings in Teknaf's Rajarchhara and other areas were found in Harun's name.

Allegation of money laundering

The former DB chief is also accused of money laundering through hundi — an informal money transfer channel. He reportedly laundered money to the UAE via hundi with the assistance of an additional deputy commissioner of DB, who is still serving. 

A brother of this DB officer operates a money changer shop in Dhaka's Nayapaltan area and a gold shop in Dubai. Sources said that the ACC plans to investigate the official's involvement in money laundering.

ACC sources also told TBS the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has seized foreign currency equivalent to Tk1532 crore that was laundered to the US under the name of Harun's wife.