POBNEWS24, Dhaka July 30, 2025 : Netrokona District Commissioner (DC) Banani Biswas of Bangladesh is still serving his duties despite being accused number 13 in the International Crimes Tribunal case. She is under investigation for corruption, fraud and embezzlement of government funds. The issue of taking government car loan facilities by concealing information has also come under the investigation of the Cabinet Division. On the other hand, it has been alleged that Netrokona District DC Banani Biswas is a minority (Hindu) and a vested interest group has been conspiring behind him for a long time to frame him.
On August 1, 2023, Musfiqur Rahman was injured in a movement in Dhaka’s New Market area. Based on this incident, a case was filed at the International Crimes Tribunal, where several high-ranking officials of the government administration, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, were accused. Banani Biswas was identified as accused number 13 in the case statement. Although the case is still under investigation, she officially retains her position as DC.
The case was filed in the backdrop of the 2024 “July Movement” and the ongoing anti-discrimination public unrest. International Crimes Tribunal Prosecutor Sheikh Mahdi said that more than 400 complaints have been filed so far, of which 65 are under investigation. The case involving Banani Biswas is one of them.
Tk 3 million car loan: Allegation of concealment and fraud: Banani Biswas transferred her husband’s old car to her own name and obtained a government car loan by concealing the information. According to documents from the Car Service Branch of the Ministry of Public Administration, on September 20, 2018, she purchased a 2015 model 1500 cc Toyota car (number Dhaka Metro-G-26-2354) on a government loan and took a loan of Tk 3 million. The agreement was jointly signed by the then Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration, Md. Shariful Islam, and Banani Biswas.
Analysis of the 2019 income tax returns shows that Banani Biswas has mentioned that she bought the car from her husband Dr. Vivekananda Kirtaniya for Tk 31 lakh. However, in the same year, her husband claimed that she sold the car for Tk 25 lakh. This inconsistent information proves that fake documents were prepared for the purpose of obtaining a loan, which is a gross violation of the Code of Conduct for Government Servants.
Providing such fake information can lead to a death penalty up to and including life imprisonment as per Section 4 of the Government Servants (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 2018.
Corruption, illegal assets and concealment of source of wealth: There are allegations of wider corruption against Banani Biswas. It has been alleged that she acquired money and assets through illegal means while she was the Chief Executive Officer of Mymensingh Zilla Parishad. Based on these allegations, on April 22, 2025, the Cabinet Division sent the matter to the Divisional Commissioner for investigation.
According to the complaint under investigation, Banani Biswas served as ACLAND and UNO in Gouripur, Phulpur and Phulbaria upazilas at various times. She then served as the secretary of the district council and later as the chief executive officer.
During this time, she purchased a plot of 10 percent land in the Kashar Ananya project in Mymensingh for Tk 1.5 crore and a 1,800 square foot flat on the 7th floor of an 11-storey building adjacent to Mominunnesa College for Tk 1.75 crore.
Apart from this, in 2019, he bought a five-katha plot in the New Dhaka City project in the Dhanmondi area of Dhaka and claimed ownership of another piece of land in the Ashulia Administration Cadre Cooperative Society.
A reliable source also said that her husband Dr. Vivekananda Kirtaniya has significant investments in two flats in KC Road in Mymensingh and Shyamoli in Dhaka, and a private hospital.
However, Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet Division Mohammad Shahedul Islam said, “A written complaint against Banani Biswas has been received by the Cabinet Division and it has been sent to the Divisional Commissioner for investigation. The investigation report has not come yet.”
Administration’s reputation in question: The International Crimes Tribunal case against an administrative official, allegations of government loan fraud and illegal assets worth crores of taka are questioning the overall moral standing of the administration. The progress of the investigation of the case and the effectiveness of the administrative measures are now under close monitoring.
These allegations have put the government to the test in establishing integrity within the administration. The investigation and action taken in this case can be a reliable measure of how effectively the government’s goodwill is being implemented.
