Embezzlement case filed by BTRC against Salman, Shayan, and 25 others, under case number Tk568cr
In a significant development, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has filed a case against Salman F Rahman, vice-chairman of Beximco Group, and his son Shayan Rahman, along with 25 others, for embezzling Tk568 crore.
The lawsuit was confirmed by Gulshan Police Station Officer-in-Charge Hafizur Rahman. The case was filed by BTRC Senior Assistant Director Toufiqul Islam with the Gulshan Police Station on Thursday night (18 September).
The case statement alleges that the accused, including Salman and his son, were involved in laundering Tk76 crore to the British Virgin Islands. The accused, after the formation of the IGW Operators Forum, embezzled funds through fraud, violated license conditions, and contract terms.
During the previous government's tenure, International Gateway (IGW) licenses were issued to transfer incoming international phone calls to local operators. A total of 27 IGW operators, including Salman and his son, have been named as accused in the case.
The case was filed under Sections 73, 74, and 76 of the Telecommunications Regulatory Act, as well as Sections 420 and 406 of the Penal Code. Salman was charged as an instigator in the murder cases related to the deaths of a student and a hawker during the uprising last year.
Salman F Rahman was arrested on 13 August 2024 at Sadarghat while attempting to flee by boat. No new information about the BTRC's role in the case or the filing of the case was provided. The name of the police legal officer responsible for filing the case is Additional Deputy Commissioner of Gulshan Police Station, Md. Asaduzzaman.
Under the interim government, allegations emerged against the IGW Operators Forum for leaving without paying dues and installing minimal equipment while extracting hundreds of crores. The case statement does not provide new information about the total embezzled amount or the number of accused beyond the 27 named in the lawsuit.
This development comes as a significant blow to Salman F Rahman, a prominent businessman and politician in Bangladesh. The case is currently under investigation at the Gulshan Police Station.
