*Court orders action against accused Wazed; investigation into collusion with court officials begins.
C T Online Desk: Staff Correspondent : A shocking case of large-scale financial fraud has surfaced at the Chattogram Money Loan Court, where an advertising agency named ‘Biggapan Bazar’ allegedly embezzled crores of taka by withdrawing funds from banks without any judicial authorization. The scam reportedly involved the connivance of some court officials and bank employees.
The accused, Mohammad Wazed, a youth from Satkania in Chattogram, began his career modestly as an office peon at the advertising agency ‘AdBank’, owned by late Zahid Hasan. Benefiting from his employer’s trust, Wazed learned every aspect of the business. However, exploiting that trust, he later took advantage of Hasan’s illness, seized control of the company’s assets, and launched his own firm — ‘Biggapan Bazar’.
Since its inception, Wazed’s agency has faced numerous allegations — including creating fake invoices, blackmailing individuals into giving advertisements, and threatening journalists. The latest revelation, however, involves a sophisticated fraud ring within the Chattogram Money Loan Court itself.
According to reports, Wazed and his associates manipulated court processes to collect money for advertisement-related notices without judicial signatures. Some dishonest court officials and even bank personnel were allegedly part of this network. Leveraging his political ties during the Awami League’s tenure, Wazed reportedly pocketed crores of taka from these fraudulent transactions — a practice he continued even after the change in political circumstances.
Recently, the issue sparked widespread discussion on social media and within court circles. Following these revelations, Judge Helal Uddin of the Chattogram Money Loan Court-1 (Joint District Judge) issued directives to take legal action against Wazed and to ensure that all future advertisements are issued to national and local newspapers strictly as per legal procedures, not through any private agency.
On Saturday (November 2), Md. Nazrul Islam, General Secretary of the News Paper Employees’ Welfare Society (NEWS) Chattogram, lodged a formal written complaint to the judge, alleging that advertisements and auction notices intended for newspapers enlisted with the Department of Films and Publications (DFP) were being handed over illegally to ‘Biggapan Bazar’ instead of the designated newspaper representatives.
This manipulation, the complaint said, created “serious complications” regarding advertisement payments and bill settlements among media organizations.
Later that day, Judge Helal Uddin held a meeting with representatives and advertising officials from both national and local newspapers. After hearing the allegations, he pledged to ensure fair and rule-based distribution of advertisements and to take disciplinary action against any court staff found involved in the scam.
A member of the NEWS organization, requesting anonymity, said Wazed had long introduced himself as being close to the Awami League but now attempts to present himself as a Jamaat-e-Islami supporter. He also maintained a close relationship with Advocate Sheikh Iftekhar Saimul Chowdhury, former president of the Chattogram District Bar Association, using that influence to dominate court operations.
The member alleged that Wazed forged bills worth crores in Satkania, Bandarban, and Lohagara — withdrawing huge sums from banks without judicial authorization. For example, he said, an actual advertisement bill worth Tk 20,000 would be inflated to Tk 70,000–80,000, which Wazed would then withdraw using fake documents and forged seals.
Another member of NEWS Chattogram added that Wazed had long operated from the Karnaphuli Tower in Kazir Dewri, where he used the influence of powerful business groups to intimidate journalists. “He built a syndicate that threatened newspapers with fake news or legal pressure if they refused to place ads through him,” the member said, adding that “hundreds of victims” had fallen into his extortion traps.
When contacted for comment, Mohammad Wazed denied the allegations.
