BTRC files Tk568cr embezzlement case against Salman, Shayan, 25 others
Case alleges misuse of gateway licences
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has filed a case against Salman F Rahman, vice-chairman of Beximco Group and former adviser to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, his son Shayan Rahman, and 25 others over embezzlement of Tk568 crore.
BTRC Senior Assistant Director Toufiqul Islam filed the case with Gulshan Police Station on Thursday night (18 September).
Confirming the matter, Gulshan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Hafizur Rahman told The Business Standard that a total of 27 International Gateway (IGW) operators, including Salman and his son, have been named as accused in the case.
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According to police sources, the lawsuit was filed under Sections 73, 74, and 76 of the Telecommunications Regulatory Act, as well as Sections 420 and 406 of the Penal Code.
The case statement said that after the formation of the IGW Operators Forum, the companies were involved in embezzling funds through fraud, violating licence conditions, and contract terms, according to media reports.
During the previous government's tenure, IGW licences were issued to transfer incoming international phone calls to local operators. Under the interim government, allegations emerged against the Forum for leaving without paying dues and installing minimal equipment while extracting hundreds of crores.
On 13 August 2024, Salman was arrested at Sadarghat while attempting to flee by boat. He was charged as instigators in the murder cases related to the deaths of a student and a hawker during the uprising last year.
