Khondaker Showkat Hossain

Khondaker Showkat Hossain is a retired secretary and director of National Housing Finance and Investments Limited.[1] He is the former secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment.[2] He is the former secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works.[3]

Early life

Hossain did his bachelors, masters, and PhD at the Bengali Language department of the University of Dhaka.[4] He received training at the Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre and the Bangladesh Military Academy.[4]

Career

Hossain worked at the Asian Development Bank in the Good Governance Initiatives Project which sought to empower the Anti-Corruption Commission.[4] He was the Divisional Commissioner of Dhaka Division.[5]

In 2011, Hossain opened the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh fair violating an order of the Bangladesh High Court asking the government to not promote unauthorized real estate projects.[6] He was made chairman of a 15-member advisory committee to manage Hatirjheel project.[7]

While Hossain was the secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Anti-Corruption Commission filed three cases against him on charges of abuse of power and corruption over his work as the secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Public Works from 2010 to 2011.[8][9] He had allocated public land to himself, his wife, and his mother though altering documents.[8] The commission dropped the name of Rajuk Chairman M. Nurul Huda after his wife returned the plot.[10][11] Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit asked banks to provide information on bank accounts of Hossain.[12]

Hossain took steps to increase the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.[13] He took steps to establish safe houses for Bangladeshi women migrants in destination countries.[14] He moved to open a labour wing at the Embassy of Bangladesh in Lebanon.[15] Justice Md. Ashfaqul Islam and Justice Ashraful Kamal summoned Hossain over a contempt of court case filed over regularizing the temporary staff of Women’s Technical Training Centers.[16]

Hossain is the Chief Advisor of Unique Group and represents in subsidiary, Borak Travels (Pvt.) Limited, on the board of directors of National Housing Finance and Investments Limited.[4][17] In July 2023, he was appointed managing editor of The Business Post.[18]

References

1. "Al-Arafah in Tk 500cr investment deal with Unique Hotel". The Daily Star. 2022-03-17. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
2. "Bangladeshi workers demonstrate for safety". The Daily Star. 2014-06-28. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
3. "Under scanner for 6 months". The Daily Star. 2013-06-13. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
4. "National Housing Finance PLC |". www.nationalhousingbd.com. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
5. "River survey begins in Narayanganj". The Daily Star. 2009-09-16. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
6. "Law and Our Rights: HC verdict ignored". www.thedailystar.net. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
7. "Striking Hatirjheel at stake". The Daily Star. 2013-05-24. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
8. "Secretary sued for corruption". The Daily Star. 2014-04-23. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
9. "ACC files cases against secretary". Bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
10. "Former RAJUK chair returns plot to get cleared of ACC charges". Prothomalo. 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
11. "Expatriates' welfare secretary sued for abusing power". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
12. "BB seeks bank info on secretary, family". Bdnews24.com. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
13. "Govt to boost manpower export to Malaysia". The Daily Star. 2014-08-18. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
14. "Female manpower export goes up". The Daily Star. 2014-09-13. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
15. "Their govt had no clue". The Daily Star. 2014-09-04. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
16. "HC summons expatriates' welfare secretary". Prothom Alo. 2014-05-27. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
17. "Our Management". www.uniquegroupbd.com. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
18. "Dr Showkat now The Business Post acting editor". The Business Post. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2024.