Bangladesh ex-air chief Hannan arrested in Qatar, ACC says

Qatari authorities arrested Bangladesh’s former air force chief Sheikh Abdul Hannan on October 15 in connection with corruption allegations in Bangladesh, according to the country’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). India Today reported on October 18 that ACC Deputy Director Md Akhtarul Islam said Interpol had formally notified the agency of the detention by email.

The ACC alleges that the retired air chief marshal accumulated more than Bangladeshi taka (Tk) 3.28 crore in assets beyond his known income and conducted suspicious transactions totalling Tk 27.63 crore through six personal bank accounts. These are allegations by investigators, not established findings of guilt.

Case covers assets and bank transactions

In July 2025, the commission approved the filing of charges under the Anti-Corruption Commission Act, the Money Laundering Prevention Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act, according to the report.

Hannan’s wife is also accused in the case. The ACC alleges that, with her husband’s assistance, she acquired more than Tk 1.91 crore in assets beyond her known sources of income. It also identified transactions it considers suspicious, worth Tk 1.18 crore, across 32 accounts in her name.

Investigators say they traced alleged offshore wealth linked to Hannan to Canada and Dubai, as well as assets registered to his children in three countries. The report does not include a response from Hannan or his wife to the allegations.

Court orders preceded detention

In March 2026, a Dhaka court granted two ACC applications seeking the seizure of the couple’s income tax records for the investigation. A court also ordered the attachment of two apartments belonging to Hannan and the freezing of his bank accounts following the commission’s allegations of unexplained wealth.

The ACC says Hannan left Bangladesh despite an active travel ban and several corruption cases against him. The report does not explain how he departed or specify arrangements for his possible return from Qatar.

Three-year tenure as air force chief

Hannan joined the Bangladesh Air Force in 1984 as a general duty pilot. He became its 16th Chief of Air Staff on June 12, 2021, and retired on June 11, 2024, completing his tenure during Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government.