Monir Ahmed, Cox’s Bazar

Serious allegations have been made of a business of selling fake cigarettes of foreign brands by encroaching 10 acres of forest land in Harbang Korbania Ghona of Chakaria Upazila. Former Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel and his cadre chief Liton are involved. This information has been confirmed in a report recently sent to NBR Chairman Abdur Rahman by the Central Intelligence Cell (CIC).

The NBR report says that out of the 20 companies involved in manufacturing counterfeit cigarettes and banderols, Bijoy International Tobacco and Tara International Tobacco are the largest. The documents show that the factory of the company named Bijoy International Tobacco was built by occupying 10 acres of forest land under the Chittagong South Forest Department.

One of the occupying partners is former Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel and the other is his chief of staff, Commissioner Liton.

These two companies imported raw materials under false declarations and manufactured counterfeit cigarettes in factories in Kishoreganj and Chakoria, Chittagong. The counterfeit cigarettes were later sold in various parts of the country.

Former Education Minister Nawfel has investments in the tobacco business of former panel mayor of Chittagong City Corporation Abdus Sabur Liton. A part of the income from this business was deposited in the bank of Premier University. Nawfel is the chairman of the board of trustees of this university.

An official involved in the investigation, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Our report has been submitted to the NBR. The NBR will take the next step.”

Bijoy International Tobacco and Tara International Tobacco, two companies owned by former panel mayor of Chittagong City Corporation Abdus Sabur Liton, are involved in manufacturing fake cigarettes and manufacturing various foreign brands of cigarettes using fake ‘band rolls’.

It is learned that 40 percent of the shares of Bijoy International Company are owned by former Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Nowfel. Since the establishment of Bijoy International Tobacco and Tara International Tobacco, they have collected at least 10,000 tons of raw materials for making cigarettes from cigarette raw material importers.