Bail granted to Salman F Rahman in one case

Mahbub Alam, Metropolitan Magistrate of Dhaka, has granted bail to Salman F Rahman, former adviser to former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on industry and investment, in a case filed over assault, death threat and forcing the resignation of S M Farmanul Islam, former chief executive officer (CEO) of Bangladesh Infrastructure Finance Fund Limited (BIFFL).

The magistrate granted his bail on Monday (August 24). Md. Sajibul Islam, lawyer of Salman F Rahman, has confirmed the matter.

S M Farmanul Islam, former CEO of BIFFL, filed the case with the Metropolitan Magistrate Court on September 15, 2024. Later the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) investigated the case. After the investigation six persons were accused.

The other accused are Abdur Rouf Talukder, former finance secretary and former governor of Bangladesh Bank, Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Muneem, former chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), Md. Monirul Islam Khan, Khandaker Anwarul Islam and Sajjad Hossain.

It is alleged in the case that while S M Farmanul Islam was the CEO of BIFFL, pressure was put on him to provide huge loan and investment facilities for organisations related to the interests of Salman F Rahman. Among these there was pressure to provide a loan of about 18 crore 50 lakh dollars or about Tk 1,400 crore in Bangladeshi currency for the Teesta Solar project owned by Salman F Rahman. However, the then CEO Farmanul Islam did not agree to the proposal of giving loan without following institutional policies and procedures.

It is further alleged in the case that advance instruction was given for investment of Tk 200 crore in zero-coupon bonds for organisations related to the interests of Salman F Rahman. Besides, pressure was put to provide loan facilities of hundreds of crores of taka without collateral for various organisations of the Beximco Group. However, Farmanul Islam did not give consent to it as there were various complications including defaulted loans in the report of the Credit Information Bureau (CIB).

According to the allegation, when Farmanul Islam refused to provide the demanded loan and investment facilities during the 80th board meeting of BIFFL on July 28, 2019, the accused pounced on him. At one stage his shirt collar was grabbed, he was pulled and slapped. Later he was forced to sign a resignation letter by giving death threats.

Besides, allegations have also been made of switching off the SIM of his official mobile phone, obstructing the use of email and snatching the keys of his personal car. It is also mentioned in the case allegation that he was threatened with being implicated in a case of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

It may be mentioned that after the fall of the Awami League government on August 5, 2024, law enforcers arrested Salman F Rahman from the Sadarghat area of the capital on August 13. Later he was shown arrested in various cases and taken on remand several times. He is currently in jail.