Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is seeking the return of former air force chief Sheikh Abdul Hannan after his detention in Qatar as it investigates allegations of unexplained wealth and money laundering.
The ACC said Hannan was taken into custody on Oct. 15. It received official notice of the arrest on Oct. 18 through Interpol and Bangladesh Police’s National Central Bureau (NCB), the commission said. The ACC is coordinating with the Home and Foreign ministries on his return.
At an Oct. 18 briefing, ACC Secretary Md. Saidur Rahman Khan alleged that Hannan held Tk 32,851,506 in assets beyond his known income and made about Tk 140,857,145 in suspicious bank transactions. The commission filed a case against him in Dhaka on July 27, 2025, and said its investigation remains open.
Accounts published when the case was filed gave higher transaction figures. bdnews24.com reported Tk 276.37 million through six accounts in Hannan’s name, while The Daily Star reported Tk 27.63 crore (Tk 276.3 million). Published accounts of the briefing do not explain the difference between the transaction figures.
The ACC said it is also examining allegations of bribery, recruitment irregularities, misuse of office, misappropriation of funds and assets held in family members’ names. It has sought information about Hannan’s assets in several countries, including Qatar and Canada.
Hannan led the Bangladesh Air Force from June 2021 until June 2024. The published account of the ACC’s remarks gave no timetable for his return.
