Former prime minister’s private industry and investment advisor Salman F Rahman is giving new information in remand interrogation. When Sheikh Hasina was in power there, the information of S. Alam’s smuggling of about one and a half lakh taka has come up. Salman F Rahman said half of the money was given to Sheikh Rehana and Hasina’s son Sajib Wazed Joy.
On remand, Salman F Rahman said that Sheikh Hasina’s family members used to push for new projects. New projects mean bigger commissions. Sheikh Hasina knew everything about it. But he never did it.
Citing Salman F Rahman, sources related to the investigation said that half of the one and a half lakh crore rupees smuggled out of the country through S Alam was given to Sheikh Rehana and Sajib Wazed Joy. These irregularities took place under the direct supervision of the then Governor of Bangladesh Bank, Abdur Rauf Talukder. But no one dared to speak about these issues. Not only the money laundering, but everyone was silent about S Alam despite taking away the country’s eastern refinery, sugar mill.
Salman F Rahman is in the custody of the Dhaka Metropolitan Detective (DB) police since his arrest. He claimed that the economic condition of the country has become so deplorable because of the excessive greed of the Sheikh family. It was always supported by some top people of the government. Many people have fallen while trying to convince Sheikh Hasina. Because, he always stuck to his own decision.
According to the investigation sources, Salman F Rahman chose the state-owned Janata Bank for looting. So he used to appoint chairman and MD as per his choice. If he did not like, he would not allow the appointee to join the bank. Even if someone joins, he would force them to resign by alleging irregularities and corruption. Hedayet Ullah Al Mamun, the former secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, was appointed as the chairman of Janata Bank, but he could not join because Salman did not like him. Similarly, the former director of the central bank. Jamal Uddin Ahmed joined as the chairman of Janata Bank but he was forced to resign due to allegations of corruption. Salman F Rahman remained silent when asked about these issues. The investigating officers questioned him about withdrawing about 7000 crore rupees from the bond. He repeatedly avoided talking about illness. The question was, why did he cheat the investors by releasing a bond called ‘IFIC Aram Bond’? The bond actually belonged to Beximco Group’s housing company Sreepur Township Limited or not? Because, 1 thousand 20 crore rupees have been withdrawn through this bond.
Those related to the investigation told this reporter that information has come to them that Salman F. Rahman has withdrawn Tk 2,250 crore through ‘Sukuk’ bonds. He forced the banks to buy these bonds. As the banks did not agree to invest in the first place, later circular was issued from Bangladesh Bank, so that the banks were forced to invest in bonds. But Salman is repeatedly avoiding questions on the excuse of his illness.
Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s private industry and investment adviser Salman F Rahman and former law minister Anisul Haque were arrested on August 13 from the Sadarghat area of the capital Dhaka.