An explosive investigation reveals how a criminal gang is colluding with the security forces of Bangladesh and has links to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Undercover reporters with the I-Unit expose how a former street mafia claims to have captured a state. Haris Ahmed, brother of Bangladesh’s army chief, Aziz Ahmed, boasts that he can use police and paramilitary units to abduct rivals and earn millions in bribes.

Documents obtained by the I-Unit also show that head of the army has helped a convicted killer evade justice. And how the country’s military intelligence service has secretly bought spyware from Israel – a country that Bangladesh does not recognise – that can monitor the prime minister’s political rivals.

The I-Unit invited all those involved in this investigation to respond to our findings. They included Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Home Minister, Inspector General, Police Commissioner and all four Ahmed Brothers.

After the release of the investigation, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement describing our findings as a “smear campaign” that was orchestrated by opponents of the regime based abroad.

It dismissed statements made by the brother of Bangladesh’s Chief of Army Staff as baseless and said Haris Ahmed had no links to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina or any other state institution.

Podcasts

More podcasts

Documents

Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit obtained a set of documents that show how the fugitive brother of the head of the Bangladesh army built a new identity in Europe.

Haris Ahmed, who was convicted of murder, obtained a wide range of documents as he worked to build a false identity where he could remain hidden from the Bangladesh police. These papers allowed him to become Mohammad Hasan and in turn enabled him set up companies and buy properties across Europe.

No wrongdoing is alleged on the part of any Hungarian, Bangladeshi or other official involved in the processing of false documentation submitted in relation to Haris Ahmed’s fake identity nor is it suggested that Haris Ahmed’s relationship with any of the companies identified below necessarily involved those companies or anyone else involved in their operation in unlawful activity.

Documents not found

1 - 6 of 24 documents

Awards

Signal Awards 2022

Signal Awards 2022

January 2023

Bronze Signal Award Winner in News & Politics Individual Episodes

Amnesty Media Awards 2022

Amnesty Media Awards 2022

April 2022

All the Prime Minister's Men is a winner in the Investigation category at this year's Amnesty Media Awards 2022.

New York Festivals 2022

New York Festivals 2022

April 2022

The I-Unit receives six awards at New York Festivals 2022

The I-Unit wins at The Lovie Awards 2021

The I-Unit wins at The Lovie Awards 2021

November 2021

All the Prime Minister's Men wins Gold and Bronze for best Video and Podcast. Three Days that Stopped the World wins a Silver and a Bronze Lovie in the Social Media and Podcast category.