Former Bangladesh Air Force Chief Arrested in Qatar

Former Bangladesh Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Sheikh Abdul Hannan, who faces corruption allegations, has been arrested by Qatari police.

He was arrested on Thursday, October 15, according to Mohammad Akterul Islam, a deputy director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), who confirmed the information on Sunday, October 18.

The ACC had earlier filed two separate cases against Hannan and his wife, Tahmida Begum, over allegations of acquiring assets beyond their known sources of income and money laundering.

In the first case, Hannan is accused of acquiring assets worth Tk 32.85 million beyond his known sources of income. Investigators also identified suspicious transactions totalling Tk 276.37 million across six bank accounts held in his name.

The case was filed under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, the Money Laundering Prevention Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

In the second case, Tahmida Begum is accused of acquiring assets worth Tk 19.19 million beyond her known sources of income. Transactions totalling around Tk 11.8 million across 32 bank accounts in her name were also flagged as suspicious.

Tahmida was named the principal accused in the case, while Hannan was accused of assisting her.

The second case was filed under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, the Money Laundering Prevention Act and Section 109 of the Penal Code.

Hannan was commissioned into the Bangladesh Air Force in 1984. He became the force’s 16th chief on June 12, 2021, and retired on June 11, 2024.