Dhaka: Koushik Hossain Taposh was a tabla player of a private television in the capital's Karwan Bazar. From an employee of a private television, he became the chairman of a private channel 'Gaan Bangla' in a few years. But the fact that his fingers suddenly became a banana tree escaped everyone's attention.

He remained out of reach due to his good relations with ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and regular meetings with ministers. After the fall of the former Prime Minister in the mass uprising, information about the misdeeds of the private channel Gaan Bangla chairman Kaushik Hossain Taposh started coming out.

Koushik Hossain Taposh was arrested on November 4 from the capital's Uttara area on specific charges.

According to the case source, on July 18, Ishtiaq Mahmud and others gathered with the students to participate in the pre-announced program of the student movement against discrimination and as soon as they reached the empty road in front of Azampur Nawab Habibullah High School in Sector No. 4 under Uttara Purba Police Station, various terrorist cadres including Awami League, Jubo League, Chhatra League, armed with domestic and foreign weapons, started ambushing, beating and shooting at Ishtiaq with the intention of killing him. He, along with the students' guardians and students, started running here and there to escape the bullets fired by the accused. Later, when the bullets fired by the accused hit his stomach, back, hand and head, he was seriously injured. Later, he received treatment at Evercare Hospital.

On October 29, businessman Ishtiaq Mahmud filed a case in this incident, naming 126 people including former IGP of the police Chowdhury Abdullah Al Mamun. The 9th accused in the case is Taposh.

It is known that Taposh, who is a singer, composer and sometimes introduced as a music director, used to have chats, songs and various events all night long in his establishment. Taposh and his wife Farzana Munni used to be the center of those chats for senior government officials, political leaders and ministers. The alleged models and beautiful women were his tools to keep the ministers and bureaucrats happy.

It is known that for the past few years, he was responsible for organizing all the cultural events of the Awami League government. Among them, the Red-Green Festival organized by the two city corporations of Dhaka and the Mujib Year program are among them. He has embezzled crores of taka from there.

He also used to launder money by bringing famous artists from abroad in the name of various events.

It is alleged that Taposh, a singer from Bangla, and his beautician wife Munni have laundered a huge amount of money to London. They laundered all this money in the name of bringing foreign artists to organize various government events in the country. As a result, Taposh is now the owner of a lot of wealth abroad. In addition to buying luxurious houses abroad, he has investments in various institutions. Which are looked after by his alleged daughter Nazis Arman and her husband Salman Baig. Taposh has laundered crores of rupees of assets smuggled out of the country through his daughter and daughter's son-in-law.

Earlier, in March 2022, Taposh brought the blue film heroine and current Bollywood actress Sunny Leone to Dhaka, showing the thumbs up to the administration, despite the ban and opposition from the country's Islamic parties. At that time, the Ministry of Information informed that Sunny Leone was not allowed to come to Bangladesh.

But Taposh brought Sunny Leone to Dhaka by showing the thumbs up to the administration, saying that she would dance with this Bollywood star at her daughter's wedding. After a 13-hour trip, the actress left the country without any obstacles.

It is learned that Nazis Arman, the daughter of Taposh's wife Munni from a previous marriage, lives in London. Nazis Arman is working as a personal assistant to Putul, the daughter of the fallen former head of government. She works as an accountant in addition to his personal affairs.

Taposh not only gained influence by using the administration and ministers. He used this influence to deceive many people in the cultural arena. Many people do not want to open their mouths for fear of shame.

A young director, on condition of anonymity, said about Taposh's deception and rise, "I have known Taposh since 2008. He was once a tabla player for a television station in Karwan Bazar. Taposh is a very driven person. He basically has two tools. One is to convince people and the other is his supply of women. He can sing well. This is how he has gained so much power."

Meanwhile, when asked about all the allegations against Taposh, Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Uttara Purba Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md. Muhibbullah told Barta24 that an investigation is underway. A lot of information is being received. This information is being verified, and details can be told after the investigation.

Meanwhile, the investigation and supervision officers in Taposh's case said that a lot of information is being found against Gaan Bangla Chairman Kaushik Hossain Taposh specially regarding his assets abroad. However, the CID is looking into the issue of sending money abroad or money laundering. If we get any important information about this, we will inform the CID.

Dhaka: Social thinker and Bangla Academy President Professor Abul Kasem Fazlul Haque has commented that if we continue without politics for a long time, we will not have sovereignty.

He said these things at a discussion titled ‘Fascist Culture in Bangladesh in the Past Decade and a Half’ at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Auditorium of the National Press Club in the capital on Friday (December 6). The meeting was organized by the Samaj Sandarshan Kendra.

Abul Kasem Fazlul Haque said that the interim government has made some plans, and if they are successfully implemented, it will be good for our nation. But if we continue without politics and political leadership for a long time, our independence and sovereignty will not be there because the big powers that exist cannot conduct politics without politics. If the people are involved, the power of the government will increase. Since earlier the two parties have created public hostility towards politics through various inappropriate actions.

The social thinker said that we are now in a great disaster. This disaster has been happening for a long time. It has reached a climax during Sheikh Hasina's tenure. After being in power for 15 consecutive years, another election was won in a farce. A huge amount of money has been smuggled abroad. After being elected, Sheikh Hasina has carried out unlimited torture on the opposition parties including the BNP. She has turned the High Court and the Supreme Court into institutions without dignity. She has made judges of those who are familiar with Sheikh Hasina. The judges have given verdicts on many political issues that Sheikh Hasina had asked for.

Comparing Sheikh Hasina's rule with the rule of Hitler and Mussolini, Abul Kasem Fazlul Haque said that everyone calls Sheikh Hasina's rule fascist. Mussolini is the proponent of fascism. Hitler later adopted Mussolini's idea of fascism. The same situation happened to Mussolini. Hitler also experienced the same situation. When Mussolini was in power, he enjoyed extraordinary popularity. But while trying to establish global authority, he had to die a tragic death at the hands of the Italian people. Later, Hitler adopted the same ideology in Germany. They became popular by promoting the most powerful state. Due to heroism, more public opinion was created against Mussolini and Hitler. Sheikh Hasina is a minor figure compared to Hitler and Mussolini, nothing outstanding. Still, Sheikh Hasina tried to perpetuate her position by talking about her father and the Liberation War.

Mustafa Majid, President of the Social Research Center, Professor Dr. Rahman Chowdhury, Barrister Sadia Arman, and others participated in the discussion.

Direct flights between Pakistan and Bangladesh will start soon, said Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi SM Mahbubul Alam.

He said that this will further deepen trade relations between the two countries.

This information was reported in a report by Pakistani media The Express Tribune on Friday (December 6).

While visiting the Hyderabad Chamber, a business organization of Pakistan, SM Mahbubul Alam said that an exhibition will be organized for importers and exporters of the two countries in collaboration with the Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industries (HCSTSI), a business organization of Pakistan.

He said that the Chief Adviser to the interim government of Bangladesh, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has emphasized on utilizing the potential of increasing trade with Pakistan. In that vein, the business community has been invited to participate in the trade fair to be held in Dhaka in January 2025.

He also assured that the visa process would be simplified to facilitate their participation.

Alam said that Bangladesh is earning billions of dollars in revenue by exporting 80 products. He stressed the need for further expansion to strengthen trade relations with Pakistan.

He called on HCSTSI to send a delegation to Dhaka, describing Bangladesh as a very attractive market.

At the event, HCSTSI President Muhammad Salim Memon highlighted the significant progress in trade relations between both Bangladesh and Pakistan. Moreover, he mentioned the fact that a cargo ship directly reached Bangladesh from Pakistan on November 11 for the first time in history as a milestone.

Memon called on Bangladeshi businessmen to actively participate in Pakistan's exhibitions, and in return, he called for ensuring proper facilities for Pakistani businessmen to attend trade fairs in Bangladesh. Memon also called for a quick solution to the challenges faced by Pakistani exporters in getting customs clearance in Dhaka.

A head-on collision between a passenger bus and a paddy-laden truck occurred in Birganj, Dinajpur. Three people were killed on the spot. Many bus passengers were injured at the time.

The accident occurred at around 8:30 am on Friday (December 6) in the Jadur intersection area of Thakurgaon Das Mile Highway in Birganj Upazila.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Das Mile Highway Police Station Omar Faruk confirmed the matter and said that a paddy-laden truck and a bus collided head-on at around 8:30 am on Friday. Three people were killed on the spot. Several bus passengers were injured at the time.

The number of casualties may increase further. Our rescue work is underway. The identities of the deceased have not been found. He also said that details will be announced later.