Ehsanur Rahman’s story: Liaquat’s antics before his luck flipped

In April 2014, Ehsanur Rahman, a drama instructor at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy was handed an unusual official letter. Upon seeing the letter's contents, the instructor was left in shock, as it had instructed him to withdraw 70 lakh taka for a project he had no involvement in. 

Stunned by the request, Ehsanur promptly informed the then Director General of the academy, Liaquat Ali Lucky, of his refusal to comply.

Despite Liaquat Ali Lucky's efforts to persuade Ehsanur in various ways, Ehsanur remained firm in his decision. Frustrated by his inability to manipulate Ehsanur, Lucky summoned members of the administrative department in the middle of the night. He issued a backdated transfer order, appointing Ehsanur as a Cultural Officer in Brahmanbaria's Shilpakala Academy. 

As Ehsanur later recounted, this move blatantly violated the academy's employment regulations, as there were no provisions for such transfers for a drama instructor.

Liaquat Ali Lucky was notorious for bending the rules to his will and he wasn't one to be easily deterred. Those who opposed him faced punitive measures, and Ehsanur was no exception. 

Only a few days after the victory of the recent student protests was announced, theatre activists had decided to protest against the injustices the industry had faced – exactly 13 years' worth of injustice led by Liaquat Ali Lucky. 

Ehsanur Rahman was one of the individuals who braved the backlash and revealed how the previous Director General allegedly used his influence to disrupt his career.

Within a month after the transfer order was issued, Lucky removed Ehsanur's name from the attendance register and halted his salary. Even though the High Court had granted a stay order against the transfer, Lucky had still prevented Ehsanur from rejoining his post for several years by willingly providing a wrongful explanation. 

Barred from his work, Ehsanur plunged into one of the most challenging phases of his life — almost overnight without any warning. 

In January of this year, the High Court finally dismissed the stay order, extinguishing Ehsanur's last hope of returning to his job. Thus began a period of relentless hardship for Ehsanur Rahman, all because he refused to be a part of Liaquat Ali Lucky's corrupt practices.

Ehsanur's life was relatively comfortable after he joined Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in 2005, following the regular recruitment process. Before joining the academy, Ehsanur had completed his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Drama and Theatre from Jahangirnagar University and was actively involved in acting and directing. 

He had earned a reputation as a skilled actor in visual media, recently receiving praise for his performance in the web series 'Karagar.' His filmography includes roles in 'Dhaka Attack,' 'Operation Sundarbans,' 'Mission Extreme,' 'Asmani,' and several others. 

On stage, he performed as a member of Dhaka Theatre, with his last performance in the play 'Prachi.'

Yet once his salary was cut off by Lucky, it pushed the drama instructor into a dark time in his life. Since his salary was halted in May 2014, Ehsanur has lived with the harsh consequences, his life a testament to the severe impact of these events.

Ehsanur has been living in the same rented apartment since 2014 despite not being able to pay off his rent, owing about 15 lakh taka to his landowners. 

"During these difficult times, I've survived on the love of people around me. My landlord, though not a relative, has become like family. Yet, he has never pressured me. I am committed to repaying him," he told TBS. 

The dark times did not deter Ehsanur, though, as he needed to survive. With a heavy heart, yet with determination, Ehsanur embarked on a new path, taking on different types of work to make ends meet. 

Reflecting on his circumstances, Ehsanur Rahman shared, "They say a father's financial struggles impact his children first, but I was determined to shield my kids from that reality. So, I ventured beyond my usual pattern and sought other sources of income." 

When faced with adversity, Ehsanur sought to sustain himself by working in visual media. His work was going well for a few years. That was until Lucky returned to Ehsanur's life to have him ostracised from the industry.

"Three years ago, with the help of a few close associates, Liaquat Ali Lucky appointed himself as an advisor to the Actors' Guild, an organisation of television actors. He used his position to unjustly expel me from the guild and warned others not to work with me," Ehsanur revealed. 

He continued, "But many ignored his words. Those who cared for me gave me work and helped me stand on my feet again."

He added, "Liaquat Ali Lucky wanted to witness my downfall, but instead, we are now witnessing his. I believe this is a form of natural justice." 

With a new Director General now in place, Ehsanur hopes to return to his job and receive his due salary. When contacted for a statement regarding the undue transfer order, salary suspension and obstruction to rejoin, Liaquat Ali Lucky responded via text, stating, "This is purely an administrative matter."

Meanwhile, the Anti-Corruption Commission formed an investigation team on 19 August to investigate the allegations against the former Director General, Liaquat Ali Lucky, and others. 

The charges against him include bribery, abuse of power, irregularities in staff appointments, embezzlement of hundreds of crores of taka through fake bills and vouchers, accumulation of vast wealth and money laundering abroad.