Former MP Jannat Ara Henry. File Photo

By Qashem Mahmud

DHAKA, July 25, 2025 (BSS) - Once a schoolteacher at Sabuj Kanan High School in Sirajganj, Jannat Ara Henry now stands as a striking symbol of political excess and unchecked corruption.

Over a span of just 15 years, she transformed into a billionaire parliamentarian with a portfolio that anti-graft officials describe as "staggering" and "fairy-tale like." 

Henry was elected to the 12th National Parliament as an Awami League-nominated candidate, serving for six months and 25 days.

Amid mounting public outrage following the mass uprising that led to the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5 last year, Jannat Ara Henry went into hiding. However, she failed to evade capture and was eventually arrested by law enforcers.

Over the 15-year rule of the Awami League, she rose to prominence as a political figure and Member of Parliament, accumulating wealth that anti-corruption officials have described as "staggering" and "fairy-tale like."

Currently, she owns 16 vehicles, alongside flats and land across Dhaka, Sirajganj and elsewhere. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has uncovered Tk 2,002.66 crore in transactions across 35 bank accounts, along with evidence of USD 13.78 million in suspected money laundering.

Talking to BSS, ACC officials confirmed that this is merely a partial snapshot of Henry's assets, illustrating how rampant corruption flourished under political protection. Investigations into other political figures and civil servants paint a similar picture.

Henry first entered politics in 2008, contesting the 9th parliamentary elections from Sirajganj-2 as the Awami League nominee. At the time, she declared a monthly income of Tk 10,000 and cash assets worth Tk 4.5 lakh. She also engaged in Rabindra Sangeet and trained students at her school.

Despite losing the 2008 election to Rumana Mahmud, wife of BNP leader Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Henry was appointed director of Sonali Bank's board by the then-Awami League government. That appointment marked the beginning of her meteoric financial rise.

Her name later surfaced in connection with loan facilitation, promotion lobbying, and financial dealings involving ministers and bureaucrats. 

ACC's case alleges that Henry concealed assets acquired through corruption and bribery.

Of the 16 vehicles she owns, all are registered under Dhaka Metro. For example: Vehicle Reg. No. Dhaka Metro-Gha-21-7388 was declared as purchased for Tk 95 lakh, though ACC estimates the actual value to be over Tk 2 crore. Another car (Dhaka Metro-Gha-12-2049), used by her family, was declared at Tk 61 lakh.

The rest include: Dhaka Metro-Cha-52-2901: Tk 18.50 lakh, Dhaka Metro-Cha-52-2900: Tk 18.50 lakh, Dhaka Metro-Cha-52-2980: Tk 18.50 lakh, Dhaka Metro-Cha-19-7524: Tk 18.80 lakh, Dhaka Metro-Cha-56-4200: Tk 21 lakh, Dhaka Metro-Jha-11-1132: Tk 32 lakh, Dhaka Metro-Cha-56-2895: Tk 10.50 lakh, Dhaka Metro-Cha-19-3782: Tk 16.65 lakh, Dhaka Metro-Ga-32-2277: Tk 26.30 lakh, Dhaka Metro-Ga-32-0474: Tk 26 lakh, Dhaka Metro-Gha-15-3990: Tk 15 lakh, Dhaka Metro-Ga-39-1503: Tk 18.25 lakh, Dhaka Metro-Cha-15-4563: Tk 16 lakh, and Dhaka Metro-Tha-11-9913: Tk 12 lakh.

Henry's known real estate portfolio includes: A 7-storey building in Sirajganj Sadar valued at Tk 2.22 crore, a flat in Sirajganj valued at Tk 37.50 lakh, two flats at Mirpur's Rajanigandha Complex, Tk 50 lakh, a two-storey house in Ratan Kandi (4,000 sq ft), Tk 1.30 crore, a property in Bhuterdiya, Sirajganj (.0637 acres) valued at Tk 82.14 lakh (Deed No. 4380), and an adjacent plot (.0700 acres) valued at BDT 2.22 crore (Deed No. 7302)

She also acquired: Two plots in Rupganj, Narayanganj, each valued at Tk 22.20 lakh (Deeds 4536 & 5937), 2.51 acres in Khapupara, Patuakhali for Tk 1.10 crore (Deed 2574), 3.5 acres across 11 deeds in Ratan Kandi (Deeds: 6688, 6639, 822, etc.), shown as worth Tk 55.82 lakh, 0.61 acres in East Mohanpur, Sirajganj for Tk 19.86 lakh (Deeds 4576 & 4577), 4.6 acres in Shilinda and Bonbariya, valued at Tk 1.06 crore (Deeds: 10613, 2698, 2699), 45.15 decimals in Sadanandpur for Tk 78.88 lakh (documented in income tax records), 5 acres in Bharanga across 12 deeds (e.g., 969, 967, 1246, 1807), worth Tk 1.11 crore, and 2.18 acres in Raiganj valued at Tk 30 lakh (Deed 4897). Prices of these assets were shown as the deed (Dalil) value. 

Following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, Henry and her husband Shamim Talukder Labu went into hiding. They were later arrested from Moulvibazar on September 30, 2024, and remain in custody.

The ACC continues to investigate her wealth. The court has approved an ACC petition to appoint a receiver to prevent any transfer or disposal of these assets.