London: The UK’s serious and organised crime agency has frozen luxury London property worth about £90m belonging to two men linked to the deposed ruler of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, according to The Guardian newspaper. The development came after mounting pressure on the UK to assist Bangladesh in tracing assets linked to the former regime.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, The Guardian reported that the National Crime Agency (NCA) obtained nine freezing orders preventing Ahmed Shayan Rahman and his cousin Ahmed Shahryar Rahman from selling the property, including apartments in London’s Grosvenor Square. Their names emerged in a Guardian investigation into UK assets owned by allies of Bangladesh’s former autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina.
All properties are owned via companies in the British Virgin Islands, Isle of Man, or Jersey, according to Companies House records, and were acquired for prices ranging from £1.2m to £35.5m. The Rahmans are the son and nephew, respectively, of Salman F Rahman, a businessman arrested while allegedly attempting to flee during the student-led revolution that toppled Sheikh Hasina last year.
Salman F Rahman, who is facing corruption charges in Bangladesh, was Hasina’s adviser on private industry and investment and was considered by many as the most influential figure in the regime. His son and nephew’s properties featured in a joint investigation by the Guardian and the campaign group Transparency International last year, revealing £400m worth of property owned by allies of Sheikh Hasina.
The properties frozen by the NCA include one in Gresham Gardens, North London. The Financial Times first reported freezing orders on two properties bought for £7.7m, where Sheikh Rehana, sister of Sheikh Hasina and mother of the former UK City minister Tulip Siddiq, has lived.
Duncan Hames, director of policy at Transparency International UK, urged UK law enforcement to continue their inquiries and freeze all suspect assets without delay. An NCA spokesperson confirmed that freezing orders were secured against several properties as part of an ongoing civil investigation.
Investigations by the interim government of Bangladesh into the former regime have also led to an arrest warrant for Tulip Siddiq, who stepped back as City minister in light of the allegations. She has denied any wrongdoing.
The Guardian has reached out to lawyers for the Rahmans and Beximco, the family corporate empire founded by Salman Rahman, for comment. A spokesperson for Ahmed Shayan Rahman told the Financial Times that their client denied any involvement in any alleged wrongdoing and will engage with any UK investigation.
The spokesperson added that there is political upheaval in Bangladesh, with numerous allegations against many individuals, and expects UK authorities to consider this context.