Hannan Masud’s ‘economic reforms’ from July student coordinator to MP

Allegation of demanding Tk 3 crore to take Awami League leader to the airport

Special Correspondent

BNP leader Rashed Khan has leveled serious corruption allegations against Abdul Hannan Masud, senior joint chief coordinator of the National Citizens Party (NCP), one of the faces of the July mass uprising, and MP from Noakhali-6 (Hatia) constituency. He raised the allegation in a post on his verified Facebook page on Wednesday (June 3).

New definition of ‘reform’: Secret meeting with Awami League leaders

According to Rashed Khan’s allegations, immediately after the mass uprising, Hannan Masood started having secret meetings with Awami League leaders. Some tables at Hotel Fars in Paltan were supposedly reserved for him. It is alleged that he became close to the leaders of the party, the organization against which he became a national hero, after coming to power.

 

The 3 crore taka ‘deal’: The incident that left Jisan stunned

The most sensational allegation in the post is the incident of demanding money in exchange for taking an Awami League MP to the airport. According to Rashed Khan, there was initially a discussion of 4 crore taka to get the Awami League MP safely to the airport. After that meeting, Hannan Masud Abdul Gaffar told Jisan, “Brother, they want to give 1 crore, you deal for 3 crore. They need all the raw money, money!”

Hearing this, Jisan, who had been by Hannan Masood’s side during the dark days of the movement, was stunned with extreme disappointment.

 

Who is Jisan: From shadowy accomplice to coup plotter, royal witness

Rashed Khan said that Abdul Ghaffar Zisan, a son of Hatiar of Noakhali, was a close associate of Hannan Masud. Rifat Rashid, Mahin Sarkar and Zisan were in hiding together since July 27. During that turbulent time, the man behind the videos and pictures of the three coordinators was Zisan. Zisan is a student of Jahangirnagar University, and his younger brother is mentioned as a friend of Hannan Masud and a student of Dhaka University and is associated with Shibir politics.

Since the time of the uprising, Jisan had been assigned to provide security to Hannan Masud. But after the uprising, Jisan could not accept Hannan Masud’s sudden change in character and greed for money. Therefore, the once trusted companion created distance and left Hannan Masud’s company.

 

Allegations of arrest of rival MP

Another important aspect of Rashed Khan’s allegations is that Hannan Masud played a role in getting Hatia Awami League MP Mohammad Ali arrested, considering him a political opponent. It is alleged that Mohammad Ali was arrested in the beginning by using his influence in the interim government.

In a private conversation, Hannan Masud has said, “I have no conflict with anyone in the Awami League in Noakhali. My only conflict is with Mohammad Ali.” He has even said in various discussions that to become a member of parliament from Noakhali, he must be as wealthy as Mohammad Ali.

 

Old politics under the guise of ‘reform’

These allegations against one of those who claimed to have fought against the old political culture in the July Movement, but came to power, raise a sharp question: In what direction did Hannan Masud’s ‘political reform’ actually go in this journey from student coordinator to member of parliament?

Political analysts believe that if these allegations – secret meetings with Awami League leaders, protection arrangements in exchange for money, and arrests of opponents – are proven, then the very corruption that this movement promised to eradicate has returned in a new guise.