Islamic Foundation appointed 47 individuals in 12 first-class posts in its revenue sector in 2012 through forgery, nepotism and other irregularities, found an investigation of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The posts include assistant director, program officer, research officer, planning officer, public relations officer, medical officer, and others.

The first-class officials continued to draw salaries and enjoy government benefits for 13 years without any interruption, said sources inside Islamic Foundation.

A high-value investigation committee, led by Justice Syed Muhammad Dastagir Husain, was formed on 14 July 2025 to investigate irregularities of the previous regime between 2009 and 2024. The committee submitted its report to the ministry and recommended the termination of all 47 officers.

The Daily Sun obtained a copy of the report.

According to the report, the appointments were made in a board meeting on 15 March 2012 with the approval of the foundation’s Board of Governors.

However, the recruitment process violated multiple government rules, including the mandatory presence of representatives from the ministries of public administration, finance, and religious affairs. None attended the meeting, rendering the process unlawful.

On top of that, Md Rezaul Karim, member secretary of the recruitment committee, refused to sign the minutes, citing severe irregularities and manipulation. He said that written test scores were tampered with and viva marks altered in pencil to favour preferred candidates. Qualified applicants were deliberately failed, while politically connected or related individuals were appointed.

Karim accused then-director general Shamim Mohammad Afzal, directors Taher Hossain and Harun-or-Rashid, and several other officials of orchestrating the fraud to benefit relatives and associates.

Allegations of nepotism

The investigation revealed that seven appointees were from Brahmanbaria, the home district of committee chairman Shamim Mohammad Afzal and influential Awami League leader RAM Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury.

Afzal’s niece, Fahmida Begum, was appointed assistant director despite scoring only 30 out of 60 in the written test; she received a perfect 28 in the viva. His nephew, Md Shah Alam, became production manager with a questionable experience certificate, while higher-scoring candidates were
excluded. Besides, Chowdhury’s relative, Md Sujan Ahmed Chowdhury, was also appointed as assistant director after receiving unusually high viva marks.

For several posts, including research officer and production manager, top scorers were denied jobs in favour of lower-ranked candidates. Recruitment documents and exam scripts were withheld or destroyed, the report read.

Deprived candidates

Qualified candidates such as Mohammad Ibrahim Hossain of Naogaon and Mohammad Aminul Haque of Rajbari testified that they were either denied appointment letters or forced to resign to make way for preferred candidates.

Talking to the Daily Sun, Hossain said, “In my place, the then authorities illegally appointed their preferred candidate. I demand justice.”

Stance of the implicated

The 47 officers were taking preparation to send a legal notice to the director general of the Islamic Foundation. On behalf of 2012 Batch Officers of the Islamic Foundation, Bangladesh Supreme Court Advocate Ahsan Habib would send the notice.

Talking to the Daily Sun, the lawyer said, “The issue was settled thrice earlier –firstly by the High Court, secondly by the Audit Department and finally by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).”

He then said, “A writ petition challenging the recruitment of 47 members of the 2012 batch was finally dismissed by the Hon’ble High Court Division in 2023, upholding the recruitment as legal and valid. Besides, the Special Audit 2021 raised certain questions, all of which were officially disposed of by the Audit Directorate. Therefore, administratively the recruitment has been regularised.

“In 2025, the ACC issued a formal Clearance Certificate, stating no pending case, no allegation, no irregularity, no corruption against the petitioners. So, the fourth time investigation is nothing but harassment of the petitioners,” he added.

According to sources, the officers of the 2012 Batch sent memorandums to the Chief Adviser Office and the Ministry of Religious Affairs respectively on 11 November seeking attentions for withdrawal of re-inquiry and immediate restoration of promotion and seniority rights of the batch officers.

DG Islamic Foundation’s stance

Islamic Foundation’s Director General Abdus Salam Khan said, “According to the type of wrongdoings, we are dividing it into three categories -- major, moderate, and minor. We are going to take actions following the investigation report.”

Officers’ identities

Of the 47 officers, Shahabuddin, Muhammad Moniruzzaman, Mir Mohammad Neyamot Ullah, Mostafizur Rahman, Mohammad Rezaul Karim, Asma Akter, Mashiur Rahman Bhuiyan, Md Alam Hossain, Abdur Razzak Roni, Fahad Ahmed, Mohammad Sujan Ahmed Chowdhury, AKM Zakiuzzaman, Abu Ubaida Mohammad Masudul Haque, Md Saiful Islam, Al Farooq, Md Mostafizur Rahman (Sirajganj), Mohammad Rajiur Rahman, Md Hiran Bepari, Tahmina Yasmin, Jannatul Ferdous, Fahmida Begum, Md Maruf Raihan, Md Abdullah Al Mamun, Ayesha Akhter, Sakhawat Hossain, Md Mohiuddin, Mohammad Faruk Ahmed, Syeda Sabiha Islam, Md Mashiur Rahman, Mohammad Jakir Hossain and Ashiqur Rahman served as assistant directors; Md Atiar Rahman and Riazul Jannat as program officers; Sahina Akter as publication officer; Sadia Sharmin as research officer; Mohammad Jamal Hossain as store officer; Mosa and Humaira Akter as planning officer; Shayla Sharmin as assistant public relations officer; Bellal Bin Quashem as public relations officer; Md Shah Alam as production manager (press); Md Mashiur Rahman as sociology instructor (agriculture); MN Al Mehedi as health instructor (medical officer); and SM Mahfuzur Rahman, Muhammad Anisur Rahman, Md Masuduzzaman, Dilruba Afroz and Tania Sultana as medical officers.