Fraud case: Court issues arrest warrants against 5 Unilever Bangladesh officials

A Dhaka court today (21 January) issued arrest warrants against five individuals, including the managing director of Unilever Bangladesh Limited, after taking cognizance of charges in a fraud case.

The accused are Md Naharul Islam Molla, managing director of Unilever Consumer Care Bangladesh Limited; Zinia Haque, financial director; Kaiser Mahmud Chowdhury, area manager (Central South Region); Syed Zikrul Bin Zamir, cluster head, and the senior territory manager of Wari of Unilever Bangladesh Ltd.

Metropolitan Magistrate Mehedi Hasan passed the order after scrutinising the police investigation report and other relevant documents.

Earlier on 5 January, CID Sub-Inspector Md Tariqul Haque submitted an investigation report stating that the allegations were primarily substantiated. The case was filed on 7 August 2025 by Md Salauddin Ferdous, commercial executive of Agrani Group of Companies, accusing the defendants of supplying damaged, expired, and defective products.

Confirming the development, Shishir Halder, bench assistant of the concerned court, said, "The court has taken cognisance of the investigation report and issued arrest warrants against the accused."

Complainant's lawyer Zahidul Islam Hiron told The Business Standard that the CID found the allegations to be true, leading the court to issue arrest warrants.

According to the complaint petition, Agrani Group of Companies has been marketing Unilever Bangladesh products as a distributor since September 2009, with the latest distribution agreement renewed on 28 January 2024.

The complainant alleged that damaged and expired products worth Tk3.75 crore were returned between January 2020 and June 2025, but were neither replaced nor refunded.

The complaint also alleged losses of Tk1.67 crore from the unnecessary purchase of delivery rickshaw vans and Tk3.11 crore in unpaid dues from credit sales made on the accused's instructions.

When the complainant sought recovery of the total Tk8.53 crore loss, the accused allegedly evaded responsibility, while the managing director is accused of demanding a Tk70 lakh bribe to facilitate recovery of the dues.

Contacted, Unilever Bangladesh Limited (UBL) said it has learned about the recent developments in the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Dhaka through media reports and reaffirms its respect for the laws of the land and the judiciary. 

"The matter remains under judicial consideration, and UBL is engaging through the appropriate legal processes. We strongly believe that our employees have not committed any act that constitutes a criminal offence while performing their official duties. If any warrant has been issued by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Dhaka, please note that this is a procedural step in a criminal proceeding, which will be contested by Unilever in the due course.