Dhaka, 26 January: The court has granted a four-day remand for Salman F Rahman, the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s adviser on industry and investment, to facilitate questioning in connection with a major corruption case. Rahman faces allegations of embezzling and laundering substantial sums from Janata Bank under the guise of loans.
The hearing was conducted by Senior Special Judge Sabbir Foyez at the Dhaka Metropolitan Court, following an application by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). The ACC had initially sought a five-day remand to aid their investigation.
Rahman was brought to the Dhaka Metropolitan Court custody at around 10:00 a.m. today. Security measures were stringent: he was escorted wearing a bulletproof vest, helmet, and handcuffs. While the ACC’s public prosecutor, Tariqul Islam, argued in favour of the remand, Rahman’s legal team requested the court to issue an order based on documents without a formal hearing. The court subsequently approved a four-day remand.
This move comes after the ACC filed a case on 3 November against Rahman and 21 others, accusing them of orchestrating a scheme to misappropriate loans and launder money through a network of companies linked to the Beximco Group.
According to the case documents, the accused allegedly exploited their positions to approve loans for a purported client, Skynet Apparels, through Janata Bank. They reportedly manipulated the Expert Development Fund (EDF) facility and used the company as a conduit to generate bills for import and export transactions within affiliated Beximco entities via BB LC. Through these transactions, the accused allegedly embezzled USD 1,472,934, equivalent to approximately BDT 136.98 crore, subsequently laundering the funds through transfers, conversions, and other channels.
Summary of Alleged Financial Misappropriation:
| Accused | Alleged Method | Amount Embezzled (USD) | Amount Embezzled (BDT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salman F Rahman & Others | Loan misuse, fake trade invoices | 1,472,934 | 136,98,28,620 |
The case has drawn significant attention, given Rahman’s previous high-profile advisory role and the scale of the alleged embezzlement. The four-day remand will allow the ACC to interrogate him and gather further evidence before formal charges are finalised.
This development marks a crucial step in the ongoing investigation into alleged systemic financial misconduct involving top corporate and political figures.
