During the rule of the fascist Awami League government, Amir Hossain Amu was a name that struck fear among the people of Jhalokathi. There was hardly any wrongdoing he wasn’t involved in. Through corruption, rigged tenders, land grabbing, and selling job positions, he became the owner of thousands of crores and massive wealth.

Over the past 16 years, former MP and Awami League advisor Amir Hossain Amu has reportedly made hundreds of crores of taka through unchecked corruption and irregularities. Although he has very little in the banking system under his name, it has been confirmed that he used to store large amounts of cash in bags at his home. On August 5, during an attack and fire at his house on Ronals Road in Jhalokathi, over five crore taka in cash and foreign currency was recovered.

Amu’s key partner in these corrupt activities was his brother-in-law Fakhrul Majid Kiran. Kiran used to collect “percentages” (bribes or commissions) from various contracts, jobs, and projects. Amu held such strong influence and power that no one dared to speak out against him — not even opposition party members.

Residents of Jhalokathi, along with local teachers and officials, reported that no recruitment, development work, or tender could happen without Amu’s approval. Kiran acted as his shadow and managed all financial matters.

Besides three known houses, a large portion of Amu’s suspected wealth is believed to have been sent to his adopted daughter Sumaiya Hossain, who now lives in Dubai and is married to a Bangladeshi businessman there.

After the incident, authorities only filed a general diary (police report), and the recovered money is still being held in the state treasury, according to the Deputy Commissioner of Jhalokathi.