Southeast Bank ex-chair’s son Raiyan Kabir alleges smear campaign, demands justice

Raiyan Kabir, son of former Southeast Bank chairman Alamgir Kabir, alleged that a group is spreading malicious propaganda against his family and called for justice during a media briefing today (2 December).

Raiyan convened the briefing at the Jatiya Press Club to address years of personal and professional grievances, "injustices against his family", and recent administrative turmoil at Southeast Bank.

However, he walked out of the session without answering questions, despite reiterating allegations of a smear campaign against his family.

Raiyan became a director of Southeast Bank in 2021 after purchasing shares using a loan from the bank, a transaction noted in a Bangladesh Bank investigation. He was later removed from the board.

The Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission has also conducted a separate probe. A travel ban has been imposed on him by the Anti-Corruption Commission in connection with a corruption case.

Asked why he was now raising concerns over his removal from the board, he said he had "no opportunity to speak before" and had spent much of the time abroad.

Questions on his share purchase using bank loans, alleged money laundering, and irregularities during his father's tenure sparked commotion at the press conference. 

He refused to answer further queries, stating he would respond separately later. Despite reporters following him outside the venue, he did not comment.

During his prepared remarks, he denied any involvement with Bay Leasing or Southeast Bank in Form-12 filings. He said repeated "baseless cases" had led to travel restrictions, preventing him from visiting family in Singapore.

Asked why conspiracies were being targeted at his family, he explained that some bank directors had written to Bangladesh Bank and the Anti-Corruption Commission in 2021. 

He said the directors later withdrew their complaints, but the investigations continued. "I have appeared before the ACC to provide explanations," he added.

He also called for impartial investigations into his allegations, measures against those destabilising the banking sector, protection and justice for his family, and the lifting of his travel restrictions.

According to a Bangladesh Bank source, Raiyan Kabir's business dealings have often been controversial. 

In 2020, he bought more than 24 million shares of Southeast Bank, where his father was chairman, using funds reportedly linked to a Tk200 crore loan from Southeast Bank to BLI Capital, a Bay Leasing subsidiary.

Raiyan's father Alamgir Kabir has faced greater scrutiny. The former chairman was fined Tk12 crore for insider trading in Bay Leasing shares in November 2024. 

In July 2025, a Dhaka court imposed a travel ban on him over graft allegations, while the Anti-Corruption Commission investigated alleged embezzlement connected to pre-IPO share purchases of BD Thai Food.