Bot at 07:37, 9 November 2022

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{{short description|Bangladeshi politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Haji Mohammad Salim
|native_name = হাজী মোহাম্মদ সেলিম
|native_name_lang = bn
|constituency_MP = [[Dhaka-7]]
|term_start = 29 January 2014
|predecessor = [[Mostofa Jalal Mohiuddin]]
|constituency_MP1 = [[Dhaka-8]]
|term_start1 = 14 July 1996
|term_end1 = 13 July 2001
|predecessor1 = [[Mir Shawkat Ali]]
|successor1 = [[Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu]]
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|05|10|df=y}}
|birth_place = [[Dhaka]], [[East Pakistan]], Pakistan
|nationality = Bangladeshi
|party = [[Bangladesh Awami League]]
}}

'''Haji Mohammad Salim''' (born 10 May 1958)<ref name=bdgov>{{Cite web|title=Constituency 180_11th_En|url=http://www.parliament.gov.bd/index.php/en/mps/members-of-parliament/current-mp-s/list-of-11th-parliament-members-english?layout=edit&id=3740|access-date=2020-12-01|website=Bangladesh Parliament}}</ref> is a [[Bangladesh Awami League]] politician and the incumbent [[Jatiya Sangsad]] member representing the [[Dhaka-7]] constituency since 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=BB seeks bank info on 13 people including Ershad's son|url=http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2014/09/21/bb-seeks-bank-info-on-13-people-including-ershad-s-son|work=bdnews24.com|accessdate=14 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parliament.gov.bd/index.php/en/mps/members-of-parliament/current-mp-s/list-of-11th-parliament-members-english|title=List of 11th Parliament Members|website=Bangladesh Parliament|access-date=10 January 2022}}</ref><ref name="ds19Feb2019" />

Salim was convicted on a corruption case for amassing wealth illegally, filed by the [[Anti-Corruption Commission (Bangladesh)|Anti-Corruption Commission]] in 2007. He began serving his 10-year prison sentence in May 2022.<ref name=jailed>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-22 |title=Haji Salim surrenders in court, sent to jail |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/haji-salim-surrenders-court-3029131|access-date=2022-05-22|website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Salim was born on 10 May 1958. He studied up to grade nine.<ref name=bdgov/>

== Career ==
Salim was a [[Bangladesh Nationalist Party]] (BNP) ward councilor. He had left the party and joined Awami League as he had failed to secure their nomination for the [[June 1996 Bangladeshi general election|1996 national election]].<ref name=drop>{{Cite news|date=2009-07-14|title=21 cases against Haji Selim set to be dropped|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-96993|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> He won the election and was elected to parliament from [[Dhaka-8]] ([[Lalbagh Thana|Lalbagh]] area) as an Awami League candidate.<ref name=drop/> He served in the Treasury Bench of the Jatiya Sangsad.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2000-01-14|title=Community health clinics for every 6000 people to be set up|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/community-health-clinics-for-every-6000-people-to-be-set-up|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> He owns Madina Group; Tiger brand cement is one of its products.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2010-07-22|title=Clinic attacked, docs beaten up|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-147759|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2010-03-05|title=Meghna devours land of shipyard, cement factory|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-128763|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> His rival and BNP member of parliament, [[Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu]], was his [[protégé]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2008-12-24|title=Crime, politics made rickshaw garage owner filthy rich|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-68493|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>

On 5 January 2014, Salim was elected to parliament as an independent candidate. [[The Daily Star (Bangladesh)|The Daily Star]] described him as a "rebel Awami League" candidate.<ref name=dorm>{{Cite news|date=2014-02-13|title=JnU students want dorm back from Haji Selim|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/jnu-students-want-dorm-back-from-haji-selim-11097|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> He was the joint secretary of Dhaka City unit of Awami League. He beat [[Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin]], the Awami League candidate in the election.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2014-01-06|title=Rebels stun AL bigwigs|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/rebels-stun-al-bigwigs-5672|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2014-09-13|title='Ex-AL MP's men' attack Haji Selim's supporters|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/ex-al-mps-men-attack-haji-selims-supporters-41443|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> In April 2014, he faced contempt of court charges after he obstructed a mobile court drive evicting illegal structures around [[Lalbagh Fort]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2014-04-06|title=Haji Selim faces contempt rule|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/haji-selim-faces-contempt-rule-18986|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>

In 2015, Salim tried to contest the Dhaka South mayoral election but did not receive approval from his party.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Haji Salim claims he was stopped from running for mayor|url=https://bdnews24.com/politics/2015/03/30/haji-salim-claims-he-was-stopped-from-running-for-mayor|access-date=2020-10-26|work=bdnews24.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2015-03-26|title=Haji Salim in deep water|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/haji-salim-deep-water-73824|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> He extended his support to the Awami League candidate [[Sayeed Khokon]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2015-04-04|title=Haji Salim joins hands with Khokon|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/haji-salim-joins-hands-khokon-75505|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>

In 2018, Salim was elected to the parliament from Dhaka-7 as a candidate of Awami League.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2018-11-25|title=Dhaka-7 - Constituency detail of Bangladesh General Election 2018|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/bangladesh-national-election-2018/seats?s=Dhaka-7&d=dhaka|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>

In December, Salim collected nomination forms from Awami League to contest Dhaka South Mayoral elections. He lost the nomination to [[Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh]], who went on to win the election.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-12-25|title=Atiqul, Tapash, Selim collect AL nomination forms|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/city/dhaka-city-election-2020-atiqul-tapash-haji-selim-collect-awami-leauge-nomination-forms-1845013|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-02-02|title=Taposh takes South|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/top-news/news/taposh-takes-south-1862338|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>

===Charges and convictions===
In September 2007, The [[Anti-Corruption Commission (Bangladesh)|Anti-Corruption Commission]] (ACC) filed two corruption cases against Salim.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AL MP Haji Salim, a convict in wealth case, returns to Bangladesh after medical treatment abroad |url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2022/05/05/al-mp-haji-salim-a-convict-in-wealth-case-returns-to-bangladesh-after-medical-treatment-abroad|date=2022-05-05|access-date=2022-05-05 |website=bdnews24.com}}</ref> In April 2008, a special court sentenced Selim to 10 years' imprisonment for amassing wealth illegally and another 3 years for concealing information in his wealth statement submitted to the ACC.<ref name=2008ill>{{Cite web|date=2008-04-28 |title=Haji Selim gets 13yrs for ill-gotten wealth |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-34143 |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> The judge also issued orders to confiscate all his ill-gotten assets worth Tk 270 million.<ref name=2008ill/> The court also sentenced his wife, Gulshan Ara (d. 2020), to 3 years' imprisonment for abetting her husband.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2008-04-03|title=Warrants for arrest of Haji Selim, his wife|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-30590|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-11-30|title=Haji Selim’s wife Gulshan Ara passes away|url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/dhaka/2020/11/30/haji-selim-s-wife-gulshan-ara-passes-away|access-date=2020-12-01|work=Dhaka Tribune}}</ref> <ref name=2008ill/> Salim filed an appeal with the [[High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh|High Court]] in October 2009 against the verdict.<ref name=2021hc/> Following the appeal, in January 2011, the High Court acquitted him of the corruption case.<ref name=2021hc/> The ACC then appealed against the HC verdict to the [[Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh|Appellate Division of the Supreme Court]] and in January 2015, it scrapped the High Court verdict and directed to hold a rehearing of Salim's appeal and to dispose of the appeal again.<ref name=2021hc/> In March 2021, the High Court upheld the verdict to 10 years' imprisonment in the corruption case but acquitted him of the charge of concealing wealth information in which he was sentenced to 3 years' imprisonment.<ref name=2021hc>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-09 |title=Graft case: HC upholds 10 years’ imprisonment of Haji Salim |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/law-our-rights/law-news/news/graft-case-hc-upholds-10-years-imprisonment-haji-salim-2057609 |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> On 10 February 2022, the High Court upheld the lower court's judgement convicting and sentencing Salim to 10 years in prison. He was asked to surrender to the trial court in 30 days.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-10 |title=Haji Salim has to surrender to trial court in 30 days |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/haji-salim-has-surrender-trial-court-30-days-2958801 |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> On 22 May, he surrendered to the court and sought bail in the case but it was rejected and he was sent to the prison.<ref name=jailed/> A day later, he was taken to [[Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University]] for treatment.<ref name=bsmmu>{{Cite web|date=2022-06-06 |title=Haji Salim denied bail |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/haji-salim-denied-bail-3040731 |access-date=2022-06-12 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> On 6 June, the Supreme Court refused him to grant bail on the case.<ref name=bsmmu/>

On 25 March 2004, six cases were filed against Salim following clashes between Awami League and BNP activists.<ref>{{Cite news|title=6 cases filed against Haji Selim, old Dhaka traders|url=http://archive.thedailystar.net/2004/03/25/d40325012020.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star}}</ref>

In May 2009, Salim was acquitted in the murder case of Abdul Hannan, an activist of [[Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Jubo Dal]], the youth front of BNP by Speedy Trial Tribunal-1.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2009-05-25|title=Haji Selim acquitted in murder case|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-89710|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> In July 2009, after Awami League came to power the government decided to withdraw 21 criminal cases against Salim.<ref name=drop/> The government stated that the cases were filed those were "politically motivated" and meant for "harassment". He had a total of 120 cases against him.<ref name=drop/>

In September 2011, the government of Bangladesh withdrew 105 cases against Salim.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2011-09-20|title=Haji Selim cleared of 105 cases|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-203224|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref> In February 2012, a case over assaulting police officers in 2004 was withdrawn by the government.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2012-02-27|title=Case against Haji Selim dropped|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-224093|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref>

In February 2019, a number of buildings owned by him were demolished by [[Bangladesh Water Development Board]] for encroaching on riverbanks.<ref name="ds19Feb2019">{{Cite news|title=Haji Salim loses 3 more buildings in riverbank eviction drive|url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/dhaka/2019/02/19/haji-salim-loses-3-more-buildings-in-riverbank-eviction-drive|work=Dhaka Tribune|date=2019-02-19|access-date=2020-10-26}}</ref> His some other buildings were demolished by [[Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority]]; following its Chairman, Commodore Mohammad Mozammel Haque, got transferred to a different location.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-02-16|title=BIWTA chairman transferred amid intense eviction drives|url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2019/02/16/biwta-chairman-transferred-amid-intense-eviction-drives|access-date=2020-10-26|work=Dhaka Tribune}}</ref>

==Controversies==
In February 2014, [[Jagannath University]] students organized protests demanding Salim return their dormitory that they accused him of illegally occupying. He denied the allegation and asked for evidence.<ref name=dorm /> He had allegedly occupied the Tibet Hall, demolished it, and built a market in its place.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rahman|first=Kazi Nafia|last2=bdnews24.com|title=Seven-year agitation draws blank, no halls for Jagannath University students|url=https://bdnews24.com/campus/2016/08/19/seven-year-agitation-draws-blank-no-halls-for-jagannath-university-students|access-date=2020-10-26|work=bdnews24.com}}</ref>

On 8 June 2019, Salim's man demolished Jahaj Bari, an architecturally significant historical building in Old Dhaka, on the night of [[Eid al-Fitr]]. The demolition had been previously stopped following the filling of a General Diary by Taimur Islam of Urban Study Group.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-06-08|title=Old Dhaka’s Jahaj Bari demolished on Eid night|url=https://www.thedailystar.net/city/jahaj-bari-in-old-dhaka-demolished-1753819|access-date=2020-10-26|work=The Daily Star|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2019-06-21|title=Urban Study Group threatens legal battle over demolition of century-old Jahaj Bari|url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/dhaka/2019/06/21/urban-study-group-threatens-legal-battle-over-demolition-of-century-old-jahaj-bari|access-date=2020-10-26|work=Dhaka Tribune}}</ref>

Salim's son, Irfan Selim,<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-10-26|title=Haji Selim’s son Irfan assaults navy officer|url=https://tbsnews.net/bangladesh/hazi-selims-son-assaults-navy-officer-149806|access-date=2020-10-26|work=Business Standard|language=en}}</ref> was arrested after he was accused to physically assaulted a [[Bangladesh Navy]] lieutenant and his wife on 25 October 2020.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2020-10-26|title=RAB takes Haji Salim’s son in custody, raids home|url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/dhaka/2020/10/26/hajim-salim-s-son-in-rab-custody-over-assault-of-navy-officer|access-date=2020-10-26|work=Dhaka Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title='Assault on Navy official': Haji Selim’s son Irfan held|url=https://unb.com.bd/category/Bangladesh/assault-on-navy-official-haji-selims-son-irfan-held/59527|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-10-26|work=UNB|language=en}}</ref> Irfan was jailed for 1 year after illegal firearms and alcohol were recovered from his house.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-26 |title=Guns, liquor found in Haji Selim’s house, son Erfan jailed for a year |url=https://archive.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/dhaka/2020/10/26/hajim-salim-s-son-in-rab-custody-over-assault-of-navy-officer |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=Dhaka Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-11-09|title=Assault on Navy Officer: Erfan Salim gets bail |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/assault-navy-officer-erfan-salim-gets-bail-3164366 |access-date=2022-11-09 |website=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Salim, Haji Mohammad}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1958 births]]
[[Category:Awami League politicians]]
[[Category:Independent politicians in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:7th Jatiya Sangsad members]]
[[Category:10th Jatiya Sangsad members]]
[[Category:11th Jatiya Sangsad members]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi politicians convicted of crimes]]
[[Category:Bangladeshi male criminals]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of Bangladesh]]

Haji Mohammad Salim - Revision history

Bot at 07:37, 9 November 2022