Anant Group Managing Director (MD) Sharif Zahir is one of the people named in the Panama Papers documents. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has taken the initiative to investigate the allegations of illegal acquisition of wealth and money laundering of this businessman in the garment sector. In the meantime, the ACC has requested the cooperation of the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) by appointing an investigation officer.

Those concerned said that Sharif Zahir has been accused of various irregularities including forcefully occupying other people’s land, not paying wages to garment factory workers on time and torture. In 2019, Adamjee human chained hundreds of workers at an Anant group garment factory in EPZ for allegedly torturing and laying off workers. At that time, about two and a half thousand workers of that garment factory were tortured by the police and at least one hundred and fifty workers were laid off without paying the dues.

Akhtar Hossain, the victim, filed a complaint with the general diary of Bhatara police station of the capital and the higher authorities of the police and the home minister regarding the illegal occupation of land in the name of Sharif Zaheer’s Anant group. In this, he demanded to stop land grab attempts, to ensure the security and availability of himself and his family. Akhtar Hossain mentioned in his general diary at Bhatara police station on April 20 that Sharif Zahir, Omar Mobin, Tamanna Rabbani and Brajananda Sarkar are conspiring to harm him (Akhtar Hossain) in the name of Anant Real Estate Limited Company. Akhter Hossain also alleged that he had invested several crores of rupees in his property. Currently, if he goes to work there, he is threatened with death. Due to this he is suffering from insecurity with his family.

The SI of Bhatara police station is investigating the general diary. Imran Hassan. When asked about this, he said that the general diary complaint has been sent to the court for permission to investigate. If the court permits, the police will investigate and take legal action.

The ACC, BFIU, Criminal Investigation Department of Police, Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation have been investigating and investigating the Bangladeshi nationals mentioned in the Panama Papers for several years. When the matter became discussed, the list of them was requested from the high court to Bangladesh Bank. Later, on January 26, 2022, the list of 69 individuals and organizations named in the Panama and Paradise Papers scandals, High Court (High Court) Justice Md. Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Md. BFIU and Bangladesh Bank submitted to the bench of Mostafizur Rahman. Among them, there are 43 names in the Panama Papers and 26 in the Paradise Papers. Responsible sources said that Sharif Zaheer’s name is also in that list.

On May 7, the ACC wrote to the Financial Intelligence Unit of Bangladesh Bank to provide the records related to the complaint for the purpose of investigating the money laundering and acquisition of illegitimate assets of Sharif Zaheer of Anant Group. In the letter signed by Golam Shahriar Chowdhury, director of the ACC’s money laundering department, ACC Deputy Director Md. Abdul Majed was told about the necessary cooperation.

If you want to know about this, ACC Deputy Director Md. Abdul Majed told media that he was appointed by the commission to investigate this matter. For this reason, he has sent a letter to BFIU seeking cooperation. But it is time consuming. He refused to say more.

If you want to know about this, the head of BFIU said. Masud Biswas said that such letters are regular transactions between BFIU and ACC. After receiving the letter, they took necessary action as per the request of ACC. Collect information and provide it. However, this letter has not yet reached him. Take necessary action. Attempts were made to contact Sharif Zaheer to get his opinion on various allegations including tax evasion and money laundering through acquisition of undeclared assets and investment by opening offshore companies abroad. He did not pick up the call even though he called several times. After visiting his office several times, it was not possible to get a statement. One of the office said that he (Sharif Zaheer) does not speak anywhere, introducing himself as his ‘private man’.