Former Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury Nowfel is under investigation by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for his alleged involvement in a large counterfeit tobacco operation. Nowfel is accused of receiving Tk 3 crore from a tobacco company linked to illegal cigarette production, including counterfeit foreign brands.
Documents show Nowfel co-owns land where Bijoy International Tobacco, a company implicated in the illegal trade, operated. Despite claims he sold his stake in 2020, the investigation reveals Nowfel, along with former city councillor Abdus Sabur Liton, controlled a significant part of the counterfeit cigarette market. Profits from this operation were allegedly funneled into Premier University, a family-run institution in Chattogram, where Nowfel serves as chairman.
The Tara Group, owner of Bijoy International Tobacco, was found to be producing fake cigarettes sold across Bangladesh. The group inflated sales to avoid taxes, with actual sales far exceeding reported figures. In 2023, Premier University received Tk 3 crore from Tara Group, further linking Nowfel to the illicit tobacco business.
Nowfel is believed to have fled the country, and the investigation is ongoing. NBR has recommended legal action against several individuals and organizations involved in the illegal tobacco trade.
Source: The Daily Star
