Desk Report:
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has filed a case against Salman F. Rahman, the private industry and investment advisor to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted in the student-public uprising, and Beximco Group Vice Chairman, and 27 others, for embezzling Tk 5.68 billion.
BTRC Senior Assistant Director Taufiqul Alam filed the case at the capital’s Gulshan Police Station on Thursday evening.
Gulshan Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Hafizur Rahman and BTRC Legal and Licensing Department Deputy Director Maidul Islam confirmed the matter.
The case alleges that after the formation of the IGW Operators Forum (IOF), its members were involved in fraudulently embezzling money, including violating the terms and conditions of the license and agreement. Until December 2024, Tk 6.31 billion was deposited in the fund under the name of ‘Market Development Expenses’ related to the IGW sector. More than 95 percent of this money was spent in the name of Beximco Computers Limited. However, the name of this company is not in the BTRC’s list of IGW licensees. Even more than 625 crore taka has been shown, almost 100 percent of which went to the account of Beximco Computers Limited; which is a company directly owned by Salman F Rahman.
Other accused in the case include Salman F Rahman’s son Ahmed Shayan F Rahman, elder brother Sohel Rahman, IOF Executive Committee Vice President Abdus Salam and Dohatech CEO AKM Shamsuddoha.
Regarding the case, BTRC’s Legal and Licensing Department Deputy Director Maidul Islam told Ajker Patrika, “The case has been filed against 27 people including Salman F Rahman on charges of embezzling 568 crore taka. The case has been registered under Sections 73/74/76 of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulation Act, 2001 (Amendment 2010) and Sections 420/406 of the Penal Code, 1860.
‘We have not filed a case against any IGW organization. Those who were in responsible positions in the IOF and those who were involved in the embezzlement of money have been named in the case.’
