Former Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder and ex-NBR Chair Abu Hena Md Rahmatul Muneem Granted Permanent Bail in BIFFL CEO Coercion Case
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A Dhaka court on Thursday granted permanent bail to former Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder and former National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Abu Hena Md. Rahmatul Muneem in a case involving the alleged assault, intimidation, and forced resignation of the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bangladesh Infrastructure Finance Fund Limited (BIFFL).
Metropolitan Magistrate Md. Ariful Islam issued the order following a hearing. The case, filed by former BIFFL CEO SM Farmanul Islam, centers on allegations that the accused coerced him to grant unethical loan facilities to Beximco Group subsidiaries, including Teesta Solar.
According to the plaintiff’s lawyer, Md. Mahbubur Rahman, the court’s decision follows a Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) report that implicated several high-ranking officials. While Talukder and Muneem have secured bail, the lawyer noted that other accused individuals remain in different legal statuses. Former BIFFL company secretary Monirul Islam Khan and former Cabinet Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam had previously been granted bail, while Sajjadul Hasan, former chairman of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and former secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, remains a fugitive.
The case stems from allegations filed on September 15, 2024. Farmanul Islam alleged that he was subjected to intense pressure to approve approximately 1.4 billion taka (roughly 185 million USD) in loans for Teesta Solar, a project owned by Salman F. Rahman, in violation of institutional policies. Furthermore, the plaintiff claimed he was pressured to authorize a 200 million taka investment in zero-coupon bonds and grant unsecured loans to Beximco Group, despite evidence of credit defaults recorded by the Credit Information Bureau.
The complaint details an incident on July 28, 2019, during the 80th board meeting of BIFFL. Farmanul Islam alleged that after refusing to sanction the loans, he was physically assaulted, forcibly detained, and compelled to sign a resignation letter under threat of death. He further alleged that his official communication channels were severed, his personal vehicle was confiscated, and he was threatened with prosecution by the Anti-Corruption Commission.
In December 2025, the PBI submitted a formal investigation report naming six individuals, including former governor Talukder. Salman F. Rahman, a key figure in the case and former private industry and investment adviser to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is currently in custody. The court had previously ordered him to be shown arrested in this case. Judicial proceedings against the remaining accused continue as the investigation into charges of fraud, abuse of power, extortion, and intimidation proceeds.
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