Kaler Kantho’s groundbreaking investigative report on the corruption empire of ex-police chief Benazir Ahmed marked a turning point for his patron: the fascist Awami League regime.

The report was published on 31 March 2024, just two months before the start of the epoch-making student-led job quota reform movement, thereby playing a crucial role in the widening movement that ultimately toppled the fascists.

The report unmasked Awami League’s “elite corrupt activities.” As a result, instead of acting on the revelations, the government retaliated against Bashundhara Group, owner of Kaler Kantho, by filing false cases. Then-Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal personally led this crackdown, using a network of corrupt officials.

Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal wasn’t a minister for the people — he was a minister for terrorists. His primary role wasn’t to protect lives and property, but to enable criminals to operate freely in exchange for large sums of money. During his tenure of over 10 years, Kamal built a massive empire of bribery.

But with the fall of the regime, the dirty secrets of Kamal’s bribery empire started to unravel. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has been investigating the allegations of bribery and money laundering against former Home Minister Kamal and two of his close aides. A team led by Deputy Director Md. Jahangir Alam has been formed to conduct the investigation.

The ACC has received a mountain of complaints against Kamal. Investigations have revealed Kamal’s vast bribery and extortion network involving top bureaucrats, police officials, and political allies. Bribes were taken for police promotions, fire service jobs, and NGO approvals. Large amounts of money were collected and allegedly laundered abroad.

Kamal’s syndicate for extortion was led by then Additional Secretary Dr Harun-or-Rashid Biswas, and it included Joint Secretary Dhananjay Kumar Das, Narayanganj SP Golam Mostafa Russell, the Minister’s APS Monir Hossain, Public Relations Officer Sharif Mahmud Apu, and Administrative Officer Molla Ibrahim Hossain.

Harun-or-Rashid Biswas was the key figure in collecting bribes. Together, the Kamal-Harun syndicate embezzled thousands of crores of takas. Even after his retirement, Harun continued to control corruption at the Ministry. To launder these funds abroad, the group used the managing director of a bank owned by Kamal’s business partner — the S Alam Group.

This syndicate charged bribes ranging from 8 million to 20 million takas for appointing police superintendents (SPs) in districts. No one could be appointed to a district or important post without their blessing. Promotions to SP positions cost 10 to 30 million takas.

Records show that on 30 June 2022, DIG Molla Nazrul Islam was appointed as Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police. He secured the position by paying Tk5 crore. The fund was delivered in sacks to Kamal’s residence in Monipuripara, Tejgaon.

Kamal’s son, Safi Modasser Khan Jyoti, ran a separate extortion network. At times, there were conflicts between father and son. For example, Jyoti once tried but failed to transfer a police officer. Kamal told him to speak with Harun. This led to a heated altercation at home in June, during which Jyoti went on a rampage and damaged property.

An NGO seeking "No Objection Certificate" (NOC) had to pay Tk80 lakh to Tk1 crore to Kamal’s syndicate.

Through this bribery and extortion empire, former Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal turned Bangladesh into a haven for criminals, extortionists, and drug dealers.