UK freezes properties of Salman F Rahman’s son

The UK’s National Crime Agency has obtained freezing orders on two London properties owned by the son of an ally of ousted Bangladesh leader Sheikh Hasina, following allegations that her regime embezzled funds, according to a report by Financial Times (FT).

The properties are owned by Ahmed Shayan Fazlur Rahman, the son of Salman F Rahman, a Bangladeshi businessman who acted as an investment adviser to Hasina and founded Beximco, according to company and property filings, the report added.

One is a luxury apartment at 17 Grosvenor Square in London, which was purchased in 2010 for £6.5mn, while the other, at Gresham Gardens in north London, was acquired for £1.2mn the following year, the filings show.

Sheikh Rehana, the sister of Hasina and mother of former UK city minister Tulip Siddiq, has lived at the Gresham Gardens property, according to UK electoral roll records, though it is not clear whether she still resides there.

“We can confirm that the NCA has secured freezing orders against property in 17 Grosvenor Square, London, and Gresham Gardens, London, as part of an ongoing civil investigation. We cannot comment further at this time,” said the NCA.

A freezing order is a court order that prevents an asset from being dissipated, said the FT report.

The FT, quoting Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen, said Salman and Ahmed Rahman are suspects in embezzlement investigations by the ACC.

The properties are owned through offshore companies in the Isle of Man, the filings show.

A spokesperson for Ahmed Rahman said: “Our client denies any involvement in any alleged wrongdoing in the strongest possible terms. He will of course engage with any investigation which takes place in the UK.

“It is well known that there is political upheaval in Bangladesh, where numerous allegations are being made against many hundreds of individuals. We would expect the UK authorities to take this into consideration.”

Sheikh Rehana and Salman F Rahman could not immediately be reached for comment, the FT added.