ACC moves to bring arrested ex-Air chief Hannan back from Qatar
Graft probe alleges unexplained wealth and suspicious bank transactions.
Highlights:
- Qatar police arrested Hannan on 15 October
- ACC alleges Tk3.28 crore in unexplained assets
- Probe identifies suspicious transactions worth Tk14.08 crore
- Court orders seizure and freezing of family assets
- Commission seeks information to secure his return
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is taking steps to bring former Bangladesh Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal (retd) Sheikh Abdul Hannan back from Qatar, where police arrested him on 15 October in connection with corruption and money-laundering allegations.
ACC Secretary Md Saidur Rahman Khan disclosed the development at a briefing at the commission's headquarters in Dhaka today (18 October).
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
He said the ACC learned of Hannan's arrest unofficially on Saturday before formally confirming the matter through the National Central Bureau (NCB) branch at Bangladesh Police headquarters. Interpol had also informed the commission of the arrest by email.
The ACC expects to secure Hannan's return by providing the necessary information sought by the relevant authorities, the secretary said.
"We have already taken all necessary steps to provide the information sought from us. We believe that, through this information, we will be able to bring the accused back to the country and bring him under the law," he said.
According to the ACC's case documents, Hannan is accused of acquiring assets worth Tk3.28 crore beyond his known sources of income and conducting suspicious bank transactions worth Tk14.08 crore, alongside allegations of money laundering abroad.
The commission formed a three-member team to investigate allegations of abuse of power, causing losses to state funds, bribery, irregularities in recruitment and misappropriation of money through corruption and other irregularities.
Following an investigation that found evidence supporting the allegations, the ACC filed a case against Hannan on 27 July 2025 at its Dhaka-1 integrated district office.
The case was filed under Section 27(1) of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, 2004; Sections 4(2) and 4(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012; and Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.
ACC Assistant Director Mahmudul Hasan was subsequently assigned to investigate the case, which remains under investigation.
ACC traces assets abroad
As part of the investigation, the ACC sent letters to the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) on 23 May 2026 and the assistant inspector general of the NCB branch of Bangladesh Police on 21 June, seeking information about Hannan's assets in Qatar, Canada and other countries.
The commission's inquiry identified assets belonging to him in Canada and Dubai. Case documents also indicate that assets held in his children's names were traced in three countries.
Following applications by the ACC, a court ordered the seizure and freezing of movable and immovable assets held in the names of Hannan and his wife, Tahmida Begum. A receiver has been appointed to oversee the assets.
The commission has also taken steps to impose a travel ban on the former air chief.
Hannan received his commission in the Bangladesh Air Force in 1984. He became the force's 16th chief on 12 June 2021 and retired on 11 June 2024.
