Dhaka: Law enforcement agencies have apprehended Zahurul Alam Jashim, a former councilor of Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) and Awami League leader, from the Banasree area in the capital. Jashim is known for his involvement in criminal activities such as hill-cutting, land grabbing, extortion, and supporting anti-social gangs using his political influence.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Jashim is a co-accused in a case filed by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) with Akbar Shah Police Station. The case arose after a BELA team, led by Chief Executive Syeda Rezwana Hasan, alleged that they were attacked and threatened while investigating illegal hill cutting in the area on January 26, 2023.
Akbar Shah thana OC Babul Azad confirmed the arrest, stating that Jashim was taken into custody from the Rampura Police Station area around 3 a.m on Wednesday. Jashim is being transferred to Chattogram for further legal proceedings. He previously served as a councilor for CCC North Pahartali Ward No. 9 and was a joint convener of the North Pahartali Ward unit of the Awami League.
Jashim has gained notoriety as a crime lord in the region by seizing government land, particularly properties owned by Bangladesh Railway. He amassed significant wealth by illegally cutting hills, developing residential plots on encroached land, and extorting money from businesses and individuals.
On January 24, Jashim was temporarily suspended from his CCC councilor position by the Ministry of Local Government due to allegations related to the BELA incident. Numerous cases are pending against him in various police stations for his involvement in criminal activities, including attacking protesters during the student-led July uprising.
Zahurul Alam Jashim was elected as a CCC councilor in 2015. The Hill Management Committee, formed by the district administration, repeatedly urged utility agencies to disconnect illegal connections from properties developed by Jashim through hill cutting. However, these actions were not implemented due to his influence and threats.
On May 28, 2015, the Department of Environment (DoE) filed a case against Jashim for hill cutting. Additionally, Jashim's wife, Taslima Begum, was fined Tk 20,000 on September 27, 2021, for similar offenses. On August 10, 2020, the DoE filed another case against Jashim for razing hills and constructing a structure near the Lake City residential area under Akbar Shah police station.