Air Chief Marshal (retd) Sheikh Abdul Hannan, who headed the Bangladesh Air Force during the Awami League government’s tenure, has been arrested in Qatar over a corruption case.
Anti-Corruption Commission is taking steps to have him repatriated, said Saidur Rahman Khan, secretary at the ACC during a press conference held on Sunday.
Saying that the corruption watchdog received news about the arrest in Doha on Saturday, he said, “We received official confirmation on Sunday.”
ACC got the information from the National Central Bureau (NCB) of the police headquarters.
The ACC secretary hopes Hannan can be brought back to the country to face legal proceedings once necessary information is furnished.
Answering to questions about the extradition of several other accused, including former IGP Benazir Ahmed and the former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury respectively, Saidur said, “ACC, ministries of foreign and home are working in coordination to bring them back and we are hopeful of getting some positive news about their extradition soon. “
Letters have been sent to Qatar, Switzerland and other nations containing information obtained through investigation.
The allegation against Hannan
Hannan is accused of misusing power, involvement in recruitment corruption, acceptance of bribes, siphoning funds and a litany of other misdeeds while serving as the head of the air force.
In addition, there is evidence indicating several properties belonging to Hannan in and outside the country.
To probe into these allegations, a three-member team was formed with ACC Deputy Director, Tanzir Hasib as head.
ACC said it found evidence that Hannan amassed assets worth Tk3 crore 28 lakh 51 thousand 506 outside known sources of income, along with information about abnormal transactions of Tk14 crore 57 thousand 145 using several bank accounts.
Based on these allegations, a case was filed against Hannan at the ACC’s Combined District Office -1 on 27 July, 2025.
Following ACC’s application, a court in Dhaka ordered the seizing of a land, three flats and seven storey under construction building plus the blocking of six bank accounts belonging to Hannan.
On 20 September last, a court also ordered 34 decimel of land in the name of the former head of the air force in Kachua upoazila of Bagerhat, to be seized.
The ACC secretary said that on 23 May of the current year, a letter was sent to Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) requesting information about Hannan’s overseas assets.
A letter was also sent to Additional IG of the NCB section of police on 21 June.
Meanwhile, with the commission’s approval, property belonging to Hannan’s wife has been seized with a receiver appointed for their upkeep.
Sheikh Abdul Hannan received commission in the Bangladesh Air Force in 1984 and took over as air force chief on 12 June 2021, going into retirement on 11 June, 2024.
