Salman F Rahman who was also a former advisor to Sheikh Hasina and considered one of Bangladesh’s most powerful businessmen. The UK government has taken a bold step against international corruption. The National Crime Agency (NCA) has frozen £90 million (1,479 crore) Taka worth of luxury properties in London belonging to Salman F Rahman’s son and nephew.
This action marks a significant blow to alleged corrupt elites from Bangladesh, signaling growing pressure to trace illicit wealth held overseas. According to The Guardian, the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has issued nine freezing orders preventing the sale of properties owned by Ahmed Shayan Rahman, son of Bangladeshi businessman and political figure Salman F Rahman, and his cousin Ahmed Shahriar Rahman. Among the frozen assets is an apartment located in London’s prestigious Grosvenor Square.
Previously, The Guardian had listed these two names in an investigation uncovering UK property owned by allies of Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian regime.
According to UK Companies House records, all of these properties were purchased through offshore companies based in the British Virgin Islands, the Isle of Man, and Jersey. The value of these properties ranges from £1.2 million to £35.5 million.
Ahmed Shayan Rahman is the son of Salman F Rahman, owner of the Beximco Group one of Bangladesh’s largest corporate conglomerates. Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government during a mass uprising last year, Salman F Rahman attempted to flee the country. He was later arrested along with former law minister Anisul Huq.
Salman F Rahman is currently under investigation in Bangladesh for multiple corruption allegations. He served as an advisor to Sheikh Hasina on private industry and investment and was widely considered one of the most influential figures in the previous regime.
A joint investigation in 2024 by The Guardian and Transparency International revealed that over £400 million worth of UK properties are owned by Sheikh Hasina’s allies. The assets held by Salman F Rahman’s son and nephew were part of that exposé.
Among the frozen properties is a house in Gresham Gardens, North London, which was previously inhabited by Sheikh Rehana, the sister of Sheikh Hasina and mother of former UK City Minister Tulip Siddiq. The two homes combined are valued at £7.7 million.
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Transparency International UK’s Policy Director Duncan Hames told The Guardian, “We urge UK law enforcement to continue their investigations and seize all suspicious assets without delay.” An NCA spokesperson confirmed, “As part of an ongoing civil investigation, the NCA has issued freezing orders against several properties.”
The interim government of Bangladesh has also issued an arrest warrant for Tulip Siddiq as part of its investigation into associates of the former regime. Siddiq resigned from her post as City Minister but denied any wrongdoing.
When contacted by The Guardian, lawyers for the two cousins and the corporate empire Beximco founded by Salman F Rahman did not respond to requests for comment. Earlier, a spokesperson for Ahmed Shayan Rahman told The Financial Times, “Our client strongly denies any involvement in alleged wrongdoing. He is committed to cooperating fully with any UK investigations.”
They added, “It is widely known that political instability in Bangladesh has resulted in hundreds of politically motivated accusations. We hope UK authorities will consider this context.”
This case demonstrates how international cooperation and investigative journalism are helping uncover illicit wealth hidden in global financial centers. With Bangladesh undergoing a political transition, the crackdown on elite corruption appears to be gathering momentum.
Salman F Rahman’s son and nephew assets seized this headline not only highlights their legal troubles but also shows how wealth and power can no longer hide behind complex offshore structures.
