Following the fall of the fascist government, a group of senior leaders of National Citizen Party (NCP) allegedly established a lavish “new arrangement” at a residential hotel in the capital under the pretext of renovating an Awami League office.
After occupying two hotel rooms for nearly eight months for late-night gatherings, “merrymaking,” and alleged immoral activities involving women, they allegedly left the hotel without paying nearly Tk 11 lakh in outstanding rent. In addition, the leaders have also been accused of threatening the hotel authorities in various ways when asked to settle the dues.
A written complaint by the authorities of Yameni International Limited, a residential hotel in Bangabandhu Avenue area of the capital, has created a stir in political circles. Seeking justice over the alleged immoral activities and misappropriation of money, the hotel’s General Manager, Khandaker Ruhul Amin, submitted a written complaint to NCP Convener Nahid Islam and Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain.
According to the hotel authorities, the allegations are directed at five leaders of the NCP’s Dhaka South Metropolitan Committee. They are: Engineer S.M. Shahriar (Member Secretary, Dhaka South Metropolitan NCP), Sadeq Mirza (Organizing Secretary, Dhaka South Metropolitan), Mirasat Hossain Himel (Chief Coordinator of Jatrabari Thana), Shakhawat Hossain, and Tawsip.
An investigation found that the alleged ringleader, Engineer S.M. Shahriar, has a striking political background. Until the mass uprising of August 5, he was an active member of Bangladesh Chhatra League and a close associate of local Awami League MP. His father served as the personal assistant (PS) to Kazi Monirul Islam Monu, the former MP of Dhaka-5 under the ousted government. Following the mass uprising, Shahriar reportedly quickly changed his political affiliation, joined the protesters, and overnight secured the influential post of Member Secretary of the Dhaka South Metropolitan NCP.
On the matter, former Gono Odhikar Parishad leader Rashed Khan wrote in a Facebook post that Shahriar had served as MP Monu’s protocol officer (PO) until the fall of the Awami League government, while his father had been the MP’s personal assistant (PS). After the mass uprising, he became a top NCP leader. According to Rashed Khan, he heard that senior leaders gave Shahriar an important position in the party as a “source” because he knew where the Awami League’s assets were and how they could be acquired.
Rashed Khan also claimed that Shahriar single-handedly misappropriated nearly Tk 1.5 crore collected as extortion money from NCP leaders and activists at the Golapbag cattle market during the last Eid-ul-Azha.
According to the written complaint filed by the hotel authorities and records from the accounts department, after the fall of the government, dozens of NCP leaders and activists led by these five leaders used Rooms 725 and 727 of the hotel from July 25, 2025, to February 12, 2026, for nearly eight months under the pretext of renovating an Awami League office.
The daily rent for each room was Tk 3,000. Accordingly, the total outstanding rent for the two rooms amounted to Tk 11,93,200. Although they paid only Tk 10,000 as an advance at the time of booking, they allegedly did not make any further payments.
Mohammad Kajol, head of the accounts department at Hotel Yameni International, described the incident, saying that some of those staying at the hotel were students of the University of Dhaka, while others lived in Shonir Akhra and Jurain. They gathered there throughout the night and frequently brought outside women to the hotel. When hotel staff objected to the alleged immoral activities and informed them that “women are not allowed,” they allegedly threatened the staff, saying, “You do your work, and let us do ours.”
Mohammad Kajol further said that despite repeated reminders to pay the rent, the leaders kept delaying payment by saying, “We will pay.” Finally, on the morning after the national election, the hotel authorities found that all of them had left without returning the room keys. The hotel authorities were then compelled to break the locks, enter the rooms, clean them, and install new locks. CCTV footage of the incident has also been preserved by the hotel authorities.
When asked about the allegations, the principal accused, Engineer S.M. Shahriar, denied all claims, saying, “I know nothing about the hotel room rent. The question of staying at the hotel with women does not arise. That person is not me.” Regarding a video showing his alleged involvement with the Bangladesh Chhatra League, he claimed it was an old video from 2023.
Meanwhile, partially acknowledging the allegations, NCP leader Shakhawat Hossain said that although the room had not been booked in his name, it was true that he had gone there with the others. He said that at times five, seven, or even ten people stayed in the two rooms. However, he said he had no knowledge regarding the rent. Organizing Secretary Sadeq Mirza also claimed that he had gone there only once or twice for political reasons.
Confirming receipt of the written complaint, National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam told the media that since a written complaint had been submitted, the party’s disciplinary committee was examining the entire matter. He said that after the disciplinary committee submits its investigation report, strict organizational action will be taken against those found responsible.
However, political analysts and ordinary citizens have said that after promising a new Bangladesh built on the sacrifice of the martyrs of the July Revolution, if leaders of the party itself become involved in extortion, misappropriation of money, and immoral activities, and if the party shelters them, it would amount to a grave betrayal of the martyrs’ sacrifice.
