New Delhi: Former Air Chief of Bangladesh Sheikh Abdul Hannan has been arrested in Qatar. He is accused of amassing disproportionate assets and suspicious transactions worth crores of rupees through bank accounts. According to the Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh, Hannan has assets worth more than 3.28 crore taka (currency) from his known sources of income. Suspicious transactions worth Taka 27.63 crore have also been detected from his six personal bank accounts. According to media reports, Commission Deputy Director Mohammad Akhtarul Islam said on Sunday that Hannan was detained in Qatar on October 15. Bangladesh officials got this information through Interpol's email.
The name of Hannan's wife has also come up in the investigation of Bangladesh Anti-Corruption Commission. She is accused of amassing assets worth more than Taka 1.91 crore from her known sources of income with the help of her husband. The investigation also revealed suspicious transactions worth Taka 1.18 crore through 32 bank accounts in his name. On the basis of investigation in July 2025, the commission had given approval to prosecute Hannan under the laws related to corruption. These cases include Anti-Corruption Commission Act, Money Laundering Prevention Act and Corruption Prevention Act.
Investigation into assets spanning Canada and Dubai
According to the Commission's allegations, it has come to light that Hannan has assets abroad. The investigating agency has traced his alleged properties in Canada and Dubai. Besides, there is also an allegation of having properties in the name of his children in three different countries. Additionally, in March a Dhaka court ordered the seizure of income tax records of Hannan and his wife on two separate applications by the commission. Earlier, the court had ordered confiscation of Hannan's two apartments and freezing of his bank accounts. The Commission says that many corruption cases were registered against Hannan. There was a ban on his going abroad, despite this he went out of Bangladesh.
Became Air Chief in 2021
Sheikh Abdul Hannan started his career as a pilot in Bangladesh Air Force in 1984. He became the 16th Chief of the Air Force on 12 June 2021. His tenure ended on 11 June 2024. Hannan was appointed during Sheikh Hasina's Awami League government. There have also been reports of corruption related cases against former Bangladesh Navy Chief Admiral Mohammad Nazmul Hasan.