Allegations of conflict of interest, abuse of power, and operating an indirect business have surfaced against Zakir Hasan Nur, the Additional Director General (ADG) of the Directorate of Posts. According to an investigative report, while performing official duties related to the Mobile Financial Service (MFS) provider 'Nagad', he allegedly operated a 'Money Distributor' business under the name of his maternal cousin, Mohammad Tariquzzaman. Monthly transactions for this business reportedly exceed Tk 200 crore.

The Core Allegations

Although Nagad is widely known as a service of the Postal Department, its ownership lies with a private entity, Third Wave Technologies Limited. Investigations suggest that Zakir Hasan Nur played a pivotal role in integrating this institution into the MFS sector using the Postal Department's identity. Simultaneously, he is accused of establishing a close relative as a distributor to operate the business from behind the scenes.

Growth and Financial Gains

Nagad began its experimental operations on October 1, 2018, with five distribution firms. One of these was 'MR Corporation', owned by Mohammad Tariquzzaman. Despite having no prior experience in the financial sector, Tariquzzaman secured the distributorship. It was later revealed that he is Zakir Hasan Nur’s maternal cousin.

As Zakir was promoted within the department, Tariquzzaman’s business footprint expanded. Currently, he owns three Nagad distribution firms in the Dhaka North region. Investigations indicate:

• Monthly Transactions: Over Tk 200 crore.

• Monthly Commission: Approximately Tk 25 lakh.

• Net Monthly Profit: Roughly Tk 15 lakh after all expenses.

Conflict of Interest

Between 2017 and October 4, 2023, Zakir held significant responsibilities, including:

1. Issuing and evaluating tenders related to Nagad.

2. Signing official contracts.

3. Acting as the Postal Department’s representative in Nagad’s direct operations.

Throughout this period, he allegedly never disclosed his relationship with his cousin, which experts deem a severe conflict of interest.

Suspicious Links and Procedural Irregularities

The matter gained renewed scrutiny following a robbery of Tk 1.08 crore from a Nagad agent in Uttara Sector 13 on June 14, 2025. Tariquzzaman was the distributor for that agent. Legal documents and General Diaries (GD) filed after the incident revealed that the addresses of the individuals involved matched Zakir’s private residence.

Further investigation into the distributorship approval process found several anomalies:

• Approval granted within 24 hours of application.

• Multiple firms using the same physical address but different postcodes.

• The use of the same e-TIN number for three different institutions, raising concerns about potential tax evasion.

Official Statements

Expert Opinion: Public administration experts state that if a government official uses their position to facilitate business for a relative, it constitutes a serious irregularity and a punishable offense that warrants a neutral investigation.

Zakir Hasan Nur’s Defense: The ADG denied the allegations, claiming his cousin operates the business independently. He admitted that while the business address was his residence for a short period initially, it is no longer the case. He stated he did not feel the need to disclose the relationship and denied providing any undue favors.

Directorate of Posts: Director General Kazi Asadul Islam stated that he was unaware of the matter and promised that legal action would be taken if the allegations were proven true upon verification.

Note: These allegations are currently under investigation. They should not be considered proven facts until the relevant authorities complete their final verification.