Former Bangladesh Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Sheikh Abdul Hannan has reportedly been arrested in Qatar in connection with corruption and money laundering cases, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) said on Sunday.
Qatari law enforcement authorities arrested him on Thursday, ACC Secretary Saidur Rahman Khan told journalists at a briefing on Sunday afternoon.
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) informed the ACC of the arrest by email. However, details of where and under what circumstances he was arrested, and whether steps had been taken to bring him back to Bangladesh, were not available.
In July 2025, the ACC filed 2 separate cases against Sheikh Abdul Hannan and his wife, Tahmida Begum, over allegations of acquiring assets beyond known sources of income and money laundering.
According to the case statement filed by the ACC, Sheikh Abdul Hannan acquired assets worth Tk3 crore 28 lakh 51 thousand 506 beyond his legitimate sources of income. He was also accused of suspicious transactions totaling Tk27 crore 63 lakh 66 thousand 701 through 6 bank accounts operated in his name.
Cases were filed against him under the relevant provisions of the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, Money Laundering Prevention Act and Prevention of Corruption Act.
In a separate case, the ACC accused Tahmida Begum of acquiring assets worth Tk1 crore 91 lakh 90 thousand 304 beyond her known sources of income. The case statement also cited suspicious transactions of approximately Tk1 crore 18 lakh through 32 bank accounts in her name.
Tahmida Begum was named the prime accused in that case, while Sheikh Abdul Hannan was also accused of assisting his wife in acquiring illegal assets.
Earlier, courts issued several orders concerning the assets and bank accounts of Sheikh Abdul Hannan and his family members in connection with the corruption allegations.
Most recently, on September 20, a court ordered the seizure of 34 decimals of land registered in his name following an application by the ACC.
Following his reported arrest in Qatar, it remains unclear what steps the relevant authorities will take to bring him back to Bangladesh.
