DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz told Daily Our Justice, “I was the one who spoke about these issues earlier. When many rumors of bribery, corruption, and irregularities surfaced in the market, I called for an investigation. I personally wrote to the ACC asking them to investigate.
Labonno chowdhury : The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has summoned Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Mohammad Azaz for questioning on Thursday, January 29, 2026, regarding allegations of abuse of power, irregularities, corruption, and bribery.
Key details of the investigation include:
Primary Allegations: The inquiry involves multiple issues, including the lease of the Gabtoli cattle market, the e-rickshaw project, the alleged occupancy of Borak Tower (Sheraton Dhaka), shop allocations at Banani Bazar, and irregularities in shop construction at the Khilgaon Taltola Super Market parking area.
Gabtoli Market Specifics: The ACC found initial evidence of revenue loss through non-transparent tender processes where a high bid of approximately Tk 220 million was reportedly canceled in favor of direct revenue collection without mandatory website notifications.
Administrator’s Stance: Azaz has stated that he personally called for the investigations to ensure transparency and accountability, asserting that the Gabtoli revenue collection exceeded 20 crore and was done according to rules.
Azaz is expected to appear at the ACC’s Segunbagicha office at 10:00 AM on the scheduled Thursday.
The ACC’s letter, sent on Jan 22, requested Azaz’s presence to provide statements on multiple issues, including:
Lease of Gabtoli cattle market,
E-rickshaw project
Occupancy of Borak Tower or Sheraton Dhaka
Shop allocations at Banani Bazar
Construction of shops on parking areas in Khilgaon Talatla Super Market
City van service
Footpath shop allocations
Other matters related to DNCC’s interests
The anti-graft agency has launched an inquiry into allegations against Azaz.On Nov 27, 2025, the ACC announced the probe, assigning a two-member team led by Assistant Director Md Ashikur Rahman, with Deputy Assistant Director Subimal Chakma as the other member.
Acknowledging the ACC (Anti-Corruption Commission) summons, DNCC Administrator Mohammad Ejaz told Daily Our Justice, “I was the one who spoke about these issues earlier. When many rumors of bribery, corruption, and irregularities surfaced in the market, I called for an investigation. I personally wrote to the ACC asking them to investigate. There must be transparency and accountability. If there are irregularities or corruption anywhere, they should investigate so that those involved can be identified.”
When asked if he would be appearing this Thursday, he replied, “Certainly.” Regarding the Gabtoli cattle market allegations, he stated, “Everything was done according to the rules. We collected over 20 crore in revenue.” On the subject of Noor Ali’s hotel, he remarked, “Everything was done by the book; let the investigation happen, and everything will come to light.”
Azaz, chairman of the River and Delta Research Centre (RDRC), a private research organisation working on river research, water management, and urban development, was appointed as DNCC administrator in February last year.Soon after taking office, he faced criticism over the cancellation of the lease tender for the Gabtoli cattle market.In April, an ACC team raided his office after receiving allegations of irregularities.
The commission termed the cancellation of the lease an “error”, saying it created a risk of significant revenue loss for the government.
During the raid, the team questioned Azaz and members of the tender evaluation committee and collected relevant documents.
At that time, an ACC statement said initial allegations of government revenue loss were found through irregularities in the lease tender for the Gabtoli cattle market.
It also reported finding the highest bid for the 2025 cattle market lease was about Tk 220 million, far higher than the government’s fixed price of Tk 146 million.
Although the evaluation committee recommended awarding the lease to the highest bidder, it was cancelled, and a decision was taken to collect “special fees”, citing the absence of a notice on the Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA) website.
Citing expert opinion, the ACC said cattle market leases do not fall under government procurement policy and therefore do not require notice on the website.
The commission also added that the team conducting the probe has submitted a report, seeking guidance on the next steps after finding preliminary evidence of the tender cancellation in an “untransparent” process.
