Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh (born 19 November 1971)[3] is a Bangladeshi politician and former mayor of South Dhaka. Previously, he served as a member of the Bangladesh Parliament for Dhaka-10 and Dhaka-12 from the Bangladesh Awami League.[4] He is a grand-nephew of Bangladesh's first president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and a first-cousin nephew of Sheikh Hasina. He reportedly fled from Bangladesh to Singapore on 3 August, 2024, just days before the fall of Sheikh Hasina's regime on 5 August 2024.[5] Since then, he has been charged over a death in custody and with corruption.[6][7]
Early life
Taposh was born on 19 November 1971 to Awami League leader Sheikh Fazlul Haque Mani and Arzu Moni.[8] His father was a nephew of Bangadesh's first president, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, making Taposh a grand-nephew of Sheikh Mujib and a first-cousin-once-removed of Sheikh Hasina. His parents were both assassinated on 15 August 1975 in a military coup that also killed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and other members of his family. Taposh and his elder brother Sheikh Fazle Shams Parash survived.[9]
Career
Taposh was elected to the Jatiya Sangsad in the 2008 Bangladeshi general election from the Dhaka-12 constituency.[10]
His vehicle was subjected to a bomb attack on 21 October 2009. The incident resulted in property damage and injuries to thirteen individuals.[11]
In the 2014 general election, he was elected unopposed to represent the Dhaka-10 constituency.[12]
In 2015, his rally was the target of a bomb attack.[13]
In the 2018 election, he was elected a member of parliament for a third consecutive time.
In 2020, he won the Dhaka mayoral election and became the mayor of Dhaka South. He got the status of full minister on 8 August 2022, along with DNCC Mayor Atiqul Islam.[14]
On 19 August 2024, he was removed from the mayor's position by the government.[15]
Controversies
He is widely believed to be one of the orchestrators of the BDR massacre.[16][17][18]
He has been sued over the custodial death of a BDR carnage accused.[6] The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is prosecuting him on charges of corruption and money laundering of over 539 crore taka.[7] The investigation of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has revealed that both Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and his wife Afrin Taposh have adopted illegal methods to whiten the earned black money. They also found evidence of his wife amassing hundreds of crores of taka illegally.[19]
Policies
Taposh called for the trial of Mahfuz Anam for supporting the military-backed caretaker government.[20] He has criticized the Rapid Action Battalion over extrajudicial killings.[21]
References
- ^ ঢাকা দক্ষিণে মেয়রের দায়িত্ব নিলেন তাপস. Bonik Barta (in Bengali). Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ^ এবার ঢাকা উত্তর ও দক্ষিণসহ ১২ সিটি করপোরেশনের মেয়রকে অপসারণ. Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 19 August 2024. Archived from the original on 19 August 2024.
- ^ "Constituency 183_11th_En". Bangladesh Parliament. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
- ^ Al Masum Molla, Mohammad (8 February 2016). "Lawmakers demand action on Daily Star editor". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- ^ "DSCC Mayor Taposh to return to country soon". Dhaka Tribune. 5 January 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Hasina, Gen. Aziz sued over custodial death of BDR carnage accused". Prothom Alo. BSS. 25 August 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ a b "ACC sues Taposh, wife over 539C money laundering". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
- ^ "Nation in Mourning". The Daily Star. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
- ^ "Joy, at long last". The Daily Star. 19 November 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
- ^ "Bangladesh Parliament Election - Detail Results". Amar Desh. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ^ "AL lawmaker Taposh escapes bomb attack". The Daily Star. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- ^ Ahmed, Taib (15 December 2013). "AL closer to majority before voting". New Age. Dhaka. Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
- ^ "Bomb attack on anti-violence rally in Dhaka's Hazaribagh". bdnews24.com. 4 March 2015. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- ^ "DNCC, DSCC mayors given minister status". New Age. 8 August 2022. Archived from the original on 20 August 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ ১২ সিটির মেয়র অপসারণ, প্রশাসক নিয়োগ. Dhaka Post (in Bengali). 19 August 2024.
- ^ "'Sheikh Hasina, Taposh had involvement in BDR massacre' | Bangladesh". Somoy News (in Bengali). Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ "BDR jawans met Taposh thrice before mutiny". The Daily Star. 6 March 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ "General Moeen U Ahmed opens up about BDR mutiny". The Financial Express. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ "Afrin Taposh mysteriously owns hundreds of crores taka | Others". BSS. Archived from the original on 29 January 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
- ^ "7 lawmakers lambast Star in parliament". The Daily Star. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
- ^ "Taposh fumes at Rab". The Daily Star. Retrieved 8 February 2016.