Mainul Hossain Pinnu:

Michael Mohiuddin Abdullah, sub-registrar at Khilgaon in Dhaka, was allegedly a close associate of former law minister Anisul Huq during the Awami League government, whose activities have since been banned. After the fall of the government on August 5, 2024, allegations have emerged that he changed his political identity, introduced himself as a former Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader and has been exercising considerable influence and power at registration offices.

He has reportedly secured a posting of his choice as sub-registrar at Khilgaon. He has also allegedly used his influence to become secretary general of the Bangladesh Registration Service Association (BRSA).

According to complaints, Michael accumulated illegal wealth by using his influence in various ways, including through transfer-related dealings, during the Awami League government. Several of his colleagues, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that Michael illegally earned crores of taka through corruption during that period.

A person named Abdul Motaleb has submitted a written complaint to the adviser to the Ministry of Law, seeking an investigation and administrative action against sub-registrar Michael.

The written complaint states that, as a sub-registrar, Michael Mohiuddin Abdullah enjoyed what was described as one of the most lucrative postings in the country. During the Awami League period, he allegedly exercised considerable influence by invoking the name of former law minister Anisul Huq.

While serving at the sub-registry office in Savar upazila of Dhaka, he allegedly illegally earned crores of taka by evading government revenue on numerous deeds. Michael allegedly often behaved rudely with deed executants and recipients, visitors and deed writers.

According to the complaint, he earned a substantial amount of illegal money while serving at the Tongi Registry Office in Gazipur. It alleged that Michael did not take anyone into consideration while performing his duties. He also allegedly earned a large amount of money while serving as an additional charge official at the Joint Sub-Registry Office in Gazipur.

The complaint further alleges that former law minister Anisul Huq provided protection for Michael’s alleged illegal earnings in all these instances.

Michael was allegedly comfortable identifying himself as a sub-registrar aligned with the Awami League. With the backing of the law minister, Michael Mohiuddin served at the Rupganj Sub-Registry Office, where he was also accused of illegally earning “crores and crores” of taka.

He later served for a short period at the Munshiganj Sadar Sub-Registry Office before recently joining the Khilgaon Sub-Registry Office at the Tejgaon Registration Complex.

The written complaint further alleges that throughout the Awami League period, Michael remained engaged in praising the Awami League. It claims that during the centenary celebrations of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth, Michael spent a large amount of money to legalise his alleged illegal income.

As a result, the complaint claims, he exercised influence over registration offices across the country as former law minister Anisul Huq’s second-in-command.

However, following the fall of the government on August 5, the complaint alleges that he changed his identity and is now introducing himself as a former Chhatra Dal leader while continuing to exercise considerable influence and power at registration offices.

The complaint claims that the Khilgaon office is considered one of the most lucrative offices under the registration complex. It alleges that Michael Mohiuddin Abdullah, described in the complaint as a corrupt and politically opportunistic sub-registrar, lobbied influential quarters to secure the Khilgaon posting.

He has meanwhile allegedly used his influence to become secretary general of the Registration Services Association and is currently exercising considerable power in that capacity.

The complaint alleges that no one is willing to speak out against him for fear of reprisals. It further claims that he continues to earn illegal income through daily bribery, as he allegedly did in the past.

Several of his colleagues questioned how a person described as a close associate of the former law minister and a supporter of the ousted Awami League government could continue to exercise influence under the current administration.

They alleged that he had legitimised his new political identity in exchange for money.

The complaint further alleges that the sub-registrar, who was highly influential during the Awami League period, is now openly defying the authorities and creating an atmosphere of fear at his workplace even under the interim government.

Several alleged victims have sought the intervention of the Ministry of Law, demanding an investigation and action against Michael.

They said Michael’s ancestral home is in Bancharampur upazila of Brahmanbaria district, while former law minister Anisul Huq’s home is in Kasba upazila. For this reason, they alleged, Michael used to introduce himself as a trusted person of Anisul Huq.

They further alleged that whenever anyone protested against his alleged unethical activities during that period, he would allegedly unleash the RAB, police and Awami League activists against them. As a result, they said, no one dared to protest against him.

According to the allegations, despite the political change, Michael has maintained his previous position and has, in some cases, become even more intimidating.

It has also been alleged that while serving at the Rupganj Sub-Registry Office, he was extensively involved in bribery. In 2023, deed writers there reportedly observed an indefinite work stoppage. The complaint alleges that Michael obstructed the protesters and physically assaulted them after intimidating them.

The complaint claims that no one received justice against corrupt and power-hungry sub-registrar Michael Mohiuddin Abdullah during the Awami League period. It alleges that victims were deprived of justice because he was able to manage everyone through his power, influence and illegal wealth.

According to the complaint, Michael Mohiuddin Abdullah has accumulated movable and immovable assets worth nearly Tk 1,000 crore.

Allegations have also surfaced that he owns multiple flats, plots and agricultural land, both in his own name and through others, in different parts of the capital and elsewhere.

According to the allegations, Michael owns several flats in Aftabnagar in Dhaka, most of which are valued at around Tk 5 crore each at current market prices.

It has also been alleged that he lives in a duplex residence occupying two floors of a multi-storey building in Gulshan-1.

He allegedly owns several high-value flats in important areas of the capital, including Gulshan, Niketan, Hatirjheel and Dhanmondi. Some of these properties are reportedly registered in the names of his wife and relatives, according to the complaint.

The allegations also mention substantial agricultural land, fish farms and other farms in Bancharampur and Nabinagar areas of his home district, Brahmanbaria.

The complaint alleges that after the Awami League came to power in 2008, he was appointed directly as a sub-registrar from a non-cadre position and subsequently established an influential position by using political connections. It also claims that members of his family obtained government jobs during the same period.

When contacted about the allegations, Michael Mohiuddin Abdullah said, “These allegations are not true. I am a government employee, and I have to follow the orders of whichever government is in power. I did not have any extra relationship with anyone beyond that. And I am not involved in any corruption either.”

Asked about the alleged properties, Michael said, “These properties do not belong to me. They are being deliberately attributed to me.”

/MHP/