Zulkarnain Saer Khan

Last updated
Zulkarnain Saer Khan
জুলকারনাইন সায়ের খান
Born
Bangladesh
NationalityBangladeshi
Occupation(s)Journalist, activist
Known forInvestigative journalism
AwardsGlobal Shining Light Awards (2023)

Zulkarnain Saer Khan is a U.K.-based exiled Bangladeshi journalist [1] and a member of Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit . [2] He is a researcher at Organized Crime and Corruption Project Reporting (OCCRP). [3] He had risen to fame after working on and appearing in Al Jazeeras widely discussed 2021 documentary All the Prime Minister's Men . [4] He won Global Shining Light Awards at GIJC23 by Global Investigative Journalism Network for his work at Secret prisoners of Dhaka. [5]

Contents

Career

Khan is working with several prominent media organisations worldwide, including Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit (I-Unit), Netra News, Haaretz, and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), Bangla Outlook to produce comprehensive investigative reports on Bangladesh. [6]

In 2021, Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit of police have pressed charges against Zulkarnain Saer Khan alias Sami and six others in a case filed under the Digital Security Act for "spreading rumours and carrying out anti-government activities". [7] Digital Security Act is alleged to be used in Bangladesh to crack down on political dissent and investigative journalist.

In March 2023, Khan's brother Mahinur Khan was beaten with iron rods by four unidentified men while out grocery shopping in the Shewrapara, a neighbourhood of Dhaka. [8] The US Embassy in Bangladesh and UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders urges thorough probe into alleged attack. [9]

The Minister's Millions'

In September 2024, Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit published a documentary on Former land minister of Bangladesh Saifuzzaman Chowdhury. Zulkarnain, the lead investigator of the documentary titled 'The Minister's Millions' said, Chowdhury has built a property empire worth at least $675 million, with plush properties in the UK, the US and the UAE. [10] Authorities in Bangladesh have frozen his bank accounts and are now investigating claims Chowdhury laundered millions of dollars into the UK. [11]

See also

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References

  1. "Exiled journalists who endured personal sacrifices to uncover the truth". The Business Standard . 30 August 2024. Archived from the original on 30 August 2024.
  2. "US Embassy expects investigation of alleged assault on journo's brother". Prothom Alo . 2023-03-24. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  3. "Exiled Bangladeshi journalist Zulkarnain Saer Khan decries Weekly Blitz smear campaign". Committee to Protect Journalists. 2023-11-22. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  4. "Sequel by same group attempting to destabilise country: Bangladesh Army's rejoinder on Al Jazeera report". The Daily Star . 2021-02-02. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  5. "Investigations from Nigeria, Venezuela, South Africa, and North Macedonia Win Global Shining Light Awards at GIJC23". gijn.org. Retrieved 2025-01-19.
  6. "Exiled journalists who endured personal sacrifices to uncover the truth". The Business Standard. 2024-08-30. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  7. "Police press charges against Sami, Tasneem Khalil, Kishore, 4 others under digital security act". The Daily Star . 2021-06-13. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  8. Ritzen, Yarno. "Bangladesh investigative journalist's brother 'beaten with rods'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  9. "UN expert, int'l orgs condemn attack on Zulkarnain's brother". The Daily Star . 2023-03-25. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  10. "Ex-AL minister has property empire worth $675 million". The Daily Star . 2024-09-20. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  11. Unit, Al Jazeera Investigative. "How a Bangladesh minister spent more than $500m on luxury property". Al Jazeera . Retrieved 2024-09-21.