Former Air Force chief Sheikh Abdul Hannan arrested in Qatar

Former Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal (retd.) Sheikh Abdul Hannan, who is accused in a corruption case, has been arrested in Qatar. He was arrested on last October 15. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has informed that the matter of his arrest has been confirmed through the e-mail of Interpol.

Deputy Director and Public Relations Officer of the ACC Md. Akhtarul Islam confirmed this information to the media today Sunday.

The ACC has filed a case against Sheikh Abdul Hannan on the allegation of acquiring assets beyond known sources of income. The case was filed after inquiry into the matter of his assets. After that the organisation took the initiative to attach his assets, freeze bank accounts and seize various documents for the need of inquiry and investigation.

In the context of the application of the ACC a court of Dhaka on May 6 last year ordered the attachment or freezing of the land in the name of Sheikh Abdul Hannan, three flats, a seven-storey building under construction and six bank accounts. Later on May 24 the court ordered the freezing of 38 bank accounts in the name of him, his wife Tahmida Begum and son Sheikh Labib Hannan. The ACC had sought the order of the court to keep the transactions closed in these accounts and prevent the transfer of assets.

Besides, the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge and Senior Special Judge Court ordered the attachment of 34 decimals of land in the name of Sheikh Abdul Hannan in Kismat Malipatan mouza of Kachua upazila of Bagerhat on last September 20. The deed value of the land is Tk 17 lakh 64 thousand.

The allegation of the ACC is that Sheikh Abdul Hannan is involved in acquiring assets and money laundering abroad by causing loss to state money through abuse of power, recruitment trade, taking bribes and various irregularities-corruption. The organisation has informed about getting the information of his immovable and movable assets at home and abroad. The investigation of these allegations is ongoing.

Sheikh Abdul Hannan served as the chief of the Air Force from June 2021 to June 2024. The allegations of the case filed by the ACC against him have not yet been proved in the judicial process.