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 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 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 two 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 beyond his legitimate sources of income and faced accusations of suspicious transactions totaling Tk27 crore through 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 beyond her known sources of income, citing suspicious transactions through multiple bank accounts.
Following his reported arrest in Qatar, it remains unclear what steps the relevant authorities will take to bring him back to Bangladesh.
Why it matters
The arrest marks a notable development in ongoing high-profile anti-corruption investigations involving senior military officials in Bangladesh.