Former air chief Sheikh Abdul Hannan arrested in Qatar over corruption cases

Former Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sheikh Abdul Hannan, an accused in two cases filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) over allegations of illegal wealth accumulation and money laundering, has been arrested in Qatar.Qatar police arrested him on October 15, according to ACC Deputy Director Md Aktarul Islam, who confirmed the development to Amar Desh on Sunday. The ACC was informed of the arrest through an Interpol email, he said.The ACC filed the two cases against Hannan and his wife, Tahmida Begum, on July 27, 2025, over allegations of acquiring assets beyond their known sources of income and laundering money.Md Tanzir Hasib Sarker, a deputy director of the ACC, filed the cases with the commission's Integrated District Office-1 in Dhaka.At the time, ACC Director General Md Akhtar Hossain told reporters that an investigation had found evidence suggesting Hannan had accumulated assets worth Tk 3.28 crore beyond his known sources of income.The commission also alleged suspicious transactions totalling Tk 27.63 crore through six bank accounts in his name.According to the ACC, Hannan acquired the assets through abuse of power and criminal misconduct. The cases also alleged that he concealed the sources of funds through suspicious banking transactions.The charges were brought under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Money Laundering Prevention Act.Wife accused of illegal wealth accumulationIn the second case, Tahmida Begum was accused of acquiring assets worth Tk 1.91 crore beyond her known sources of income.The ACC also reported suspicious transactions totalling Tk 1.18 crore through 32 bank accounts in her name.According to the case documents, Tahmida allegedly acquired the assets with her husband's assistance. Hannan was also named as an accused in the case.Assets and businesses abroad under scrutinyDuring its investigation, the ACC said it had found information about Hannan's business establishments and assets in Qatar, Dubai and other countries.The commission also claimed to have obtained information about substantial assets held in the names of his children in Canada. At the time, it said the details would be verified during the investigation.On May 5, 2025, amid the corruption probe, a court imposed a travel ban on Hannan, his wife Tahmida and their son, Sheikh Labib Hannan.The following day, acting on an ACC petition, the court ordered the seizure of Hannan's land, house and three flats. It also directed that six of his bank accounts be frozen.On May 24 that year, the court ordered the freezing of a total of 38 bank accounts held in the names of Hannan, his wife and their son.Later, on November 11, 2025, a court ordered the seizure of two flats and the freezing of 10 bank accounts registered in the name of Sanjida Akter, an alleged associate of Hannan.In its petition, the ACC alleged that Hannan had purchased the flats in Sanjida's name to conceal assets allegedly acquired illegally.On March 30 this year, a court ordered the seizure of the income tax records of Hannan and his wife following separate applications by the ACC in connection with the investigation.Most recently, on September 20, a court ordered the attachment of 34 decimals of land registered in Hannan's name in Kachua upazila of Bagerhat. The ACC's petition put the deed value of the land at Tk 17.64 lakh.Served as air chief from 2021 to 2024Hannan was appointed chief of the Bangladesh Air Force on June 12, 2021, during the Awami League government led by Sheikh Hasina. He retired on June 11, 2024.The allegations against Hannan and his wife are subject to investigation and judicial proceedings.