Salman F Rahman, S Alam extorted Tk10,000cr to fund 2018 midnight election: Police report

For the 11th national parliamentary election held in 2018, the official government allocation amounted to around Tk967 crore. However, beyond this official allocation for organising what is now tainted as "midnight vote," the Awami League raised Tk10,000 crore through extortion and distributed an amount nearly ten times higher among various government agencies and individuals.

In that controversial 2018 election, around Tk666 crore was allocated for the law enforcement sector alone.

The information emerged in an internal police report. TBS has obtained some part of the 456-page report.

Acting on instructions from the interim government, all police units and intelligence agencies worked for nearly six months to identify the principal characters and modus operandi of the 2018 midnight voting. The investigation identified the architects of the operation as well as detailed information on financial transactions.

Regarding the distribution of funds for vote rigging, the report says that Tk3,500 crore out of Tk10,000 crore was paid to four law enforcement agencies (including the police), two intelligence agencies, and senior administrative officials, including deputy commissioners, UNOs and divisional commissioners. The remaining Tk5,000 crore was divided among Sheikh Rehana, S Alam, Salman F Rahman and H T Imam. The police alone received Tk1,000 crore.

The report states that S Alam, the businessman closely associated with Awami League, was assigned responsibility for raising funds for the election. A reliable source confirmed that he collected Tk8,000 crore and distributed the money among different agencies.

Sources of fund collection included bank capture, intimidation-based extortion, loan fraud involving various banks, extortion from businessmen, and the collection of money in exchange for awarding government contracts.

Police got 'incentive money'

The report raises the question of whether the money given to the police was an "incentive" or advance payment for vote rigging. It states that funds allocated to security agencies under the guise of incentives were, in reality, used to facilitate ballot rigging, suppress the opposition and control the administration.

This has been described as a political investment in the report with the expected return being election manipulation. The true purpose of the funds was advance payment for an anti-democratic operation.

Tk1,000 crore was given to the police alone. This money was delivered in several stages directly to police headquarters. The report states that Salman F Rahman, H T Imam and then home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, through their loyal officials, including then joint secretary Harun Ur Rashid, deputy secretary Dhananjay Kumar Das, CTTC DC Proloy Kumar Joardar, DIG Habibur Rahman and Dhaka district SP Shah Mizan Shafiur Rahman, ensured the transfer of the cash to police headquarters. The money was delivered over several days through trusted intermediaries.

Police officials got priority promotions

When asked, a DIG at police headquarters said that officers who played key roles in ensuring the "successful completion" of the 2018 election were prioritised for promotions and awards. DIGs from all ranges and superintendents of police from all 64 districts received special recognition. Lists were prepared of those who assisted in midnight voting, and these were reportedly sent to both senior government authorities and the Anti-Corruption Commission. Investigators found that the concept of midnight voting initially originated within the police.

Six AL leaders managed fund collection

The report states that six influential Awami League leaders orchestrated fund collections from businessmen at home and abroad. The final decision to conduct midnight voting was taken three months before the election by the party high command, with the involvement of senior police officials, many of whom have since fled abroad. While some Awami League leaders are in jail, others remain overseas.

Officials involved in the investigation told TBS that the interim government has identified those responsible for the fraudulent polling. To retain power, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina acted recklessly, and police, administrative officials, ministry officials and election officials competed to implement anti-democratic directives. Their identities have now been uncovered. A comprehensive list has been prepared, including former IGPs, unit heads, range DIGs, district SPs, additional SPs, OCs, inspectors, sub-inspectors, DCs and executive magistrates, as well as former ministers and secretaries.

Police sources said the pre-election at a special meeting held at Ganabhaban. Attendees included Sheikh Rehana, Tareque Ahmed Siddique, Salman F Rahman, former law minister Anisul Huq, former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan, H T Imam, former IGP Javed Patwary and former RAB chief Benazir Ahmed. A specific budget was set, and Sheikh Rehana, Salman F Rahman, Anisul Huq and Tareque Ahmed Siddique were tasked with collecting funds from established businessmen at home and abroad.

Money distribution network

In the second phase, a secret distribution network was set up within police headquarters to ensure balanced disbursement. From 17 December 2018 onwards, money was handed to SPs of all 64 districts, DIGs of eight ranges, metropolitan police commissioners and heads of special units. District allocations ranged from Tk5 to Tk10 crore, range-level allocations from Tk5 to Tk15 crore, and metropolitan commissioners received Tk2 to Tk7 crore. OCs received Tk10 lakh, investigation and operations OCs Tk5 lakh, and ASPs and circle officers Tk5 to Tk10 lakh.

According to the investigation, RAB chief Benazir Ahmed received Tk100 crore, SB additional IGP Mir Shahidul Islam Tk50 crore, and then IGP Javed Patwary at least Tk150 crore. In exchange, these units played a "silent but effective" role on election night. At least 52 senior police officials participated, directing field-level officers to seize polling centres, stuff ballots, expel opposition agents and manage results.

Most of the accused have managed to flee the country. Police investigations found that at least 15 listed officers have taken refuge in the US, London, Australia, Turkey, Dubai and India. Many officers remain absent from their posts following the political transition.

Obaidul Quader oversaw manipulation

The report also states that Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader oversaw the overall management of election manipulation under Sheikh Hasina's leadership. Party leaders and activists at every level were involved, and in some centres more votes were cast than the number of voters. Ballots were later burned and recounts conducted before refilling boxes.

Meanwhile, the National Election Investigation Commission found that the 2024 national election in Bangladesh was marked by a strategic "misinterpretation" of democracy, in which "dummy" candidates were fielded to create an illusion of competition in the absence of major opposition parties. 

The commission described this strategy as the final stage in a decade-long erosion of voting rights, following the uncontested 2014 elections and the 2018 "midnight voting", when ballots were reportedly pre-sealed the night prior to the poll day in nearly 80% of polling centres.

According to the commission's report, the 2014 election was orchestrated to keep the Awami League in power. Of the 300 parliamentary constituencies, 153 were uncontested, while the remaining 147 were so-called contests planned by state authorities. The BNP and most other parties boycotted the election, calling it sham and rigged. 

In 2018, ballots were allegedly stamped between 10pm and 3am in almost 80% of polling centres, ensuring victory for the ruling party. Opposition parties participated but failed to anticipate the scale of manipulation.