LuciaStonor at 15:26, 26 September 2025

2025-09-26T15:26:08Z

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{{short description|Bangladeshi politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = HBM Iqbal
|native_name = এইচ বি এম ইকবাল
|native_name_lang = bn
|constituency_MP = [[Dhaka-10]]
|parliament = Bangladesh
|term_start = 14 July 1996
|term_end = 13 July 2001
|predecessor = [[Abdul Mannan (politician, born 1942)|Abdul Mannan]]
|successor = Abdul Mannan
|nationality = Bangladeshi
|party = [[Bangladesh Awami League]]
|occupation = Entrepreneur
|spouses = {{marriage|Momtaz Begum||2022|end=her death}}
|website = {{url|https://drhbmiqbal.com/}}
}}

'''HBM Iqbal''' is a Bangladeshi entrepreneur and the founder chairperson of Premier Group of Companies Ltd. He is also a [[Bangladesh Awami League]] politician and a former [[Jatiya Sangsad]] member representing the [[Dhaka-10]] constituency during 1996–2001.<ref name=vec>{{cite news |title=Four injured in reckless driving by ex-Awami League MP HBM Iqbal's underage nephew at Gulshan|url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/four-injured-in-reckless-driving-by-ex-awami-league-mp-hbm-iqbals-underage-nephew-at-gulshan|work=bdnews24.com|accessdate=8 December 2016}}</ref>

==Career==
Iqbal was elected as a [[Bangladesh Awami League]] candidate representing the [[Dhaka-10]] constituency in June 1996 and served as the Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee at the [[Ministry of Science and Technology (Bangladesh)|Ministry of Science and Technology]].<ref name="vec2">{{cite news |title=Four injured in reckless driving by ex-Awami League MP HBM Iqbal's underage nephew at Gulshan |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/four-injured-in-reckless-driving-by-ex-awami-league-mp-hbm-iqbals-underage-nephew-at-gulshan |accessdate=8 December 2016 |work=bdnews24.com}}</ref><ref name="bio2">{{Cite web |date=2020-10-06 |title=Biography - Dr HBM Iqbal |url=https://drhbmiqbal.com/biography/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |language=en-US}}</ref>

On 13 February 2001, shots were fired from Iqbal's rally to the rally of the then opposition party, [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]] (BNP), in the [[Malibagh]] area of [[Dhaka]].<ref name="vec2" /><ref name="photo2">{{Cite news |date=2010-08-27 |title=Photos From The Incident |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-152486 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326041827/https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-152486 |archive-date=2019-03-26 |access-date=2019-03-26 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> Photographs of the incident were published in newspapers.<ref name="photo2" /><ref name="vec2" /> Four people in the BNP rally were killed in the shooting.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Dulal remanded in 2001 Malibagh shooting |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2007/10/22/dulal-remanded-in-2001-malibagh-shooting |access-date=2019-03-26 |work=bdnews24.com}}</ref> Iqbal, along with 23 others, were charged on 29 December 2002, by the [[Detective Branch]].<ref name="relieve2">{{Cite news |title=AL leaders relieved from 2001 murder case |url=https://bdnews24.com/politics/2010/08/26/al-leaders-relieved-from-2001-murder-case |access-date=2019-03-26 |work=bdnews24.com}}</ref><ref name="charge2">{{Cite news |date=2003-01-01 |title=Charges pressed against Iqbal, 23 others |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/charges-pressed-against-iqbal-23-others |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326041826/https://www.thedailystar.net/news/charges-pressed-against-iqbal-23-others |archive-date=2019-03-26 |access-date=2024-02-25 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> In August 2010, Speedy Trial Tribunal-1 dropped the case against him, MP [[Nurunnabi Chowdhury]] and 12 others after the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (Bangladesh)|Ministry of Home Affairs]] had recommended to drop the charges citing it as a "political harassment case" in 2009.<ref name="relieve2" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-08-25 |title=Iqbal, Shaon, 12 others acquitted of Malibagh murder charges |url=https://www.banglanews24.com/national/article/4292/Iqbal-Shaon-12-others-acquitted-of-Malibagh-murder-charges |access-date=2019-03-26 |work=banglanews24.com |language=en}}</ref>

On 25 June 2007, Iqbal was charged with corruption by the [[Anti-Corruption Commission (Bangladesh)|Anti Corruption Commission]] (ACC).<ref name="attach2">{{cite news |date=28 November 2007 |title=Property of HBM Iqbal, family to be attached |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-13413 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161129012713/https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-13413 |archive-date=29 November 2016 |access-date=3 March 2019 |newspaper=The Daily Star}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=11 March 2008 |title=HBM Iqbal jailed for 13 years |url=https://bdnews24.com/politics/2008/03/11/hbm-iqbal-jailed-for-13-years |access-date=3 March 2019 |newspaper=bdnews24.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=12 March 2008 |title=HBM Iqbal handed 13yrs behind bars |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-27365 |access-date=3 March 2019 |newspaper=The Daily Star}}</ref><ref name="dons2">{{cite news |date=19 January 2009 |title=AL's crime dons show up at HC |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-71966 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161101174936/https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-71966 |archive-date=1 November 2016 |access-date=3 March 2019 |newspaper=The Daily Star}}</ref> He was sentenced to 13 years in jail on 11 March 2008; 10 years for undeclared assets worth Tk 22.9 crore and 3 years for concealing information on property worth more than Tk 16 crore.<ref name="jail2">{{cite news |date=28 February 2010 |title=Banker, ex-AL MP Iqbal sent to jail in wealth case |url=https://bdnews24.com/business/2010/02/28/banker-ex-al-mp-iqbal-sent-to-jail-in-wealth-case1 |access-date=3 March 2019 |newspaper=bdnews24.com}}</ref><ref name="fin2">{{cite news |date=9 March 2017 |title=Ex-MP Iqbal\'s wife, two sons, daughter land in jail |url=https://today.thefinancialexpress.com.bd/public/politics-policies/ex-mp-iqbals-wife-two-sons-daughter-land-in-jail |access-date=29 August 2023 |newspaper=The Financial Express |location=Dhaka}}</ref> His wife, Momtaz Begum, two sons, Moyeen Iqbal and Ikram Iqbal, and a daughter, Naurin Iqbal, were also convicted.<ref name="fin2" /> HBM Iqbal was sent to jail in February 2010.<ref name="jail2" />

The [[High Court of Bangladesh|High Court]] acquitted Iqbal in 2011 but upheld the convictions of his family members. The ACC filed a petition against the acquittal but they dropped their petition in 2015.<ref name="inde2">{{cite news |title=Ex-MP Iqbal's wife, 3 children get bail |url=http://www.theindependentbd.com/arcprint/details/85699/2017-03-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206183241/http://www.theindependentbd.com:80/arcprint/details/85699/2017-03-17 |archive-date=2020-02-06 |access-date=2020-08-20 |work=The Independent |location=Dhaka}}</ref> The family members surrendered at the court in March 2017 and secured bail within a week.<ref name="inde2" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=Former AL lawmaker Iqbal's wife, two sons and daughter land in jail |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/former-al-lawmaker-iqbal-s-wife-two-sons-and-daughter-land-in-jail |access-date=2024-02-25 |work=bdnews24.com |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2010, [[Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha]] (RAJUK), the public agency for urban development in Dhaka, sent a demolition notice to Momtaz Begum, the wife of Iqbal, for illegally building, Premier Square, a skyscraper in [[Gulshan Thana|Gulshan]] area.<ref name="rising2">{{cite news |last=Ali |first=Tawfique |date=25 August 2010 |title=Rising high the audacity |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-152187 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161203173202/http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-152187 |archive-date=3 December 2016 |access-date=8 December 2016 |newspaper=The Daily Star}}</ref> She had failed to produce documents supporting building's approval despite repeated notices.<ref name="rising2" />

On October 12, 2015, Iqbal's underage nephew, Fareez Rahman, crashed his car into 2 rickshaws and injured 4 people. According to policemen on the scene, Fareez had been drinking while driving and was intoxicated. Instead of arresting detaining Fareez, the police were seen taking him away from the scene on a police motorcycle. Later, the High Court ordered the police to arrest Fareez but he was not found in his residence and thought to already have fled the country.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-10-20 |title=Take legal action against SUV driver, HC tells cops |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/city/news/take-legal-action-against-suv-driver-hc-tells-cops-160054 |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>

In February 2021, Iqbal sent more than 30 legal notices to [[bdnews24.com]] to remove past articles on criminal cases against him.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-02-17 |title=Former ruling party MP accused of orchestrating 'attempts to muzzle journalism' |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/dhaka/2021/02/17/former-ruling-party-mp-accused-of-orchestrating-attempts-to-muzzle-journalism |access-date=2021-02-17 |work=Dhaka Tribune}}</ref> Online articles regarding Iqbal's cases published by ''[[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]]'' now shows the error ''"You are not authorized to access this page"''.<ref name="photo2" /><ref name="attach2" /><ref name="dons2" /><ref name="rising2" />

As of 2010, Iqbal was a vice-president of the Awami League's Dhaka city unit.<ref name="rising2" /> He is the founder chairman of Premier Group of Companies Ltd, [[Premier Bank Limited]], Premier Foundation and Premier Bank Foundation.<ref>{{cite news |date=21 January 2013 |title=Premier Bank sues nine officials for fund fraud |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-266067 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220081246/http://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-266067 |archive-date=20 December 2016 |access-date=8 December 2016 |newspaper=The Daily Star}}</ref><ref name="bio2" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=19 December 2019 |title=5-star Marriott chain opens in Dhaka |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/5-star-marriott-chain-opens-dhaka-1842265 |access-date=10 August 2020 |work=The Daily Star}}</ref>

=== Post-August 2024 ===
After the fall of [[Sheikh Hasina]]'s government on 5 August 2024, Iqbal and his family fled from Bangladesh. The [[Anti-Corruption Commission (Bangladesh)|Anti-Corruption Commission]] launched an inquiry into Iqbal and his family for acquiring hundreds of crores of taka in illegal wealth. The ACC reported that Iqbal's assets the 5-star Renaissance hotel in [[Banani (neighbourhood)|Banani]] and the [[Royal University of Dhaka]] were built through illegal sources.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-24 |title=ACC to launch inquiry against Premier Bank chairman HBM Iqbal |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/acc-launch-inquiry-against-premier-bank-chairman-hbm-iqbal-949286 |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}}</ref> Subsequently, the [[Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit]] froze the accounts of Iqbal, his two wives Anjuman Ara Shilpi & late Momtaz Begum, two sons Moin & Imran, and daughter Nawrin. After the fall of the [[Awami League]] government, the [[Interim Government of Bangladesh]] reopened the 2001 Malibagh murder case on a petition of former president of [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)|BNP]]'s [[Khilgaon Thana]] unit and one of the members of the procession upon whom Iqbal fired his pistol at. In November 2024, the [[High Court of Bangladesh]] ordered Iqbal, ex-MP from Bhola [[Nurunnabi Chowdhury|Nurunnabi Chowdhury Shaon]], and 13 others to surrender on the 2001 Malibagh murder case.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HC orders surrender of ex-MP Iqbal, 14 others in Malibagh quadruple murder case |url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/hc-orders-surrender-of-ex-mp-iqbal-14-others-in-malibagh-quadruple-murder-case |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=The Financial Express |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Iqbal was married to Momtaz Begum (d. 2022).<ref name="wife2">{{Cite web |title=HBM Iqbal’s wife Momtaz Begum dies |url=https://businesspostbd.com/news/2022-06-29/hbm-iqbals-wife-momtaz-begum-dies |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=businesspostbd.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-06-28 |title=Premier Bank Chairman Dr HBM Iqbal’s wife passes away |url=https://www.daily-sun.com/post/629062 |access-date=2024-02-25 |work=Daily Sun |language=en}}</ref> She had served as the vice-chairman of Sheikh Hasina University of Science and Technology Board of Trustees and as the chairperson of the [[Royal University of Dhaka]] Board of Trustees.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-06-28 |title=Premier Bank chairman’s wife passes away |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/obituary/premier-bank-chairmans-wife-passes-away-448958 |access-date=2024-02-25 |work=The Business Standard |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iqbal, HBM}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Awami League politicians]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi businesspeople]]
[[Category:7th Jatiya Sangsad members]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Sir Salimullah Medical College alumni]]
[[Category:Politicians from Dhaka]]

HBM Iqbal - Revision history

LuciaStonor at 15:26, 26 September 2025