Transcom case turns worse as Shahzreh accuses Simeen of ‘killing’ brother
The case was filed by younger sister Shahzreh Haque
The simmering Transcom Group family dispute, seemingly ignited by the division of the vast business empire – worth around Tk10,000 crore – left behind by the late Latifur Rahman, founder of the Group, has escalated into a dire situation.
Shahzreh Huq, the younger daughter of Latifur Rahman, has levelled serious allegations against her elder sister and Transcom CEO, Simeen Rahman.
Shahzreh accuses Simeen of being involved in the untimely demise of their elder brother, Arshad Waliur Rahman. Shahzreh alleged that Arshad, who was divorced and childless, was "killed through strangulation or poisoning", purportedly to prevent him from claiming a share of the family wealth.
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These allegations have dealt a significant blow to the reputation of Transcom Group, a conglomerate known for its purported adherence to ethical business practices. The turmoil within the family contrasts starkly with the image cultivated by the group's founder within the business community and tax authorities of the country.
A murder case was filed with the capital's Gulshan Police Station on Friday, confirmed the Gulshan Division deputy commissioner, adding that ten others were made respondents for their alleged involvement with the murder.
The accused are Simeen Rahman's son and Transcom Limited's Head of Transformation Zaraif Ayat Hossain, Executive Director of Corporate Affairs (Law) Fakhruzzaman Bhuiyan (60), Director of Corporate Finance Kamrul Hasan (61), Manager of Corporate Affairs Selina Sultana (45), Manager of Corporate Affairs KH Md Shahadat Hossain (50), Manager (Medical Affairs) of Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Murad Hossain (50), Marketing and Sales Department Executive Director Dr Md Mujahidul Islam (55), Md Zahid Hossain (55), Arshad's chef Rafiq (55) and his driver Mirazul (40).
Munshi Moniruzzaman, a lawyer of Transcoms Group, said the new case was filed so the three top officials of the group cannot return home without any issue.
"The incident in the new case dates back nine months. This case has been filed falsely and fabricated with fabricated information for the purpose of harassment," he added.
In 1972, after his jute mill was nationalised, Latifur Rahman founded today's Transcom Group, which has since become a partner with various foreign brands entering the Bangladeshi market. The group built two top-tier newspapers in the country alongside having stakes in insurance and a non-bank financial institution.
According to US-based global research organisation ZIPPIA, Transcom's annual revenue was $685.1 million in 2023 while it employed over 25,600 people.
This battle is among corporate succession conflicts that have unfolded in recent months after the death of founders, who spent most of their lives turning a small business into a conglomerate.
After Transcom Group, the most recent is Nasir Group, now embroiled in a full-fledged conflict among the heirs over the distribution of wealth following the passing of its founder, Nasir Uddin Biswas.
Previous cases
In three separate police cases on 21 February alleging that Transcom Chairman Shahnaz Rahman, Simeen Rahman and several other Transcom officials including Fakhruzzaman Bhuiyan and Kamrul Hasan of breaching trust, committing fraud, and forging documents to deny her and her deceased brother their "rightful" portion of the family's wealth.
Five Transcom officials were arrested on 22 February when Shahnaz Rahman, Simeen Rahman and Zaraif Ayat Hossain were travelling abroad.
The five were released on bail on the next day by a Dhaka Court on condition to surrender their passport. However, the bail was cancelled later as they did not reappear and did not submit their passports.
Transcom Group cases investigation officer and Inspector of Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) Alauddin told TBS on Saturday "The accused are on the run, we couldn't arrest them. And we have no information on their whereabouts."
Earlier on 23 February the PBI sought a travel ban on Shahnaz Rahman, Simeen Rahman and Zaraif Ayat Hossain.
On Thursday, the Supreme Court's Chamber Court ordered for no interruption in the three's returning home and surrendering to the court within three days.
What Shahzreh said in the murder case FIR
Reiterating her previous allegation Shahzreh now said that after their father's death on 1 July 2020, Simeen and others forged a lot of documents to ensure that she and her brother Arshad Waliur Rahman did not get the share of the wealth.
"My brother and I decided to take legal action against them for this. On 8 June 2023, Arshad Waliur Rahman gave me the power of attorney," she said in the first impression report of the murder case.
The power of attorney gave Shahzreh legal authorisation to act on behalf of an individual referred to as the principal.
"Simeen got angry at my brother for giving me the power of attorney. During this time, he expressed a fear for his life to our close relatives," Shahzreh said.
Just around 11:15am eight days later on 16 June 2023, Shahzreh received a call from a former domestic worker, Moslem Howladar, who was employed under her father.
He told her that her brother, Arshad, had died.
"Within 10 minutes, I rushed to his home to find him dead in his bedroom," Shahzreh said.
She said all the 11 accused were present in his house at the time, but she claimed no one had informed her of the death.
"My brother was not suffering from any chronic diseases. I had tried contacting him for the past four days, but I could not," she said.
Shahzreh recalled seeing an ambulance parked outside her brother's rented Gulshan residence where he lived alone.
Once at the house, Shahzreh saw Manager (Medical Affairs) of Eskayef Pharmaceuticals Dr Murad Hossain, 50, and Marketing and Sales Department Executive Director Dr Md Mujahidul Islam, 55, being spoken to by Simeen.
"Simeen was instructing them to get the death certificate as soon as possible," she claimed. "The remaining others were also asked to complete the burial within the afternoon."
According to Shahzreh, the body was then taken to the hospital by Dr Murad by which time a number of unidentified Eskayef Pharmaceuticals employees were present.
"The on-duty doctor then said Arshad had been dead for a while. He asked why there was this much of a delay in bringing the dead body," she said.
The on-duty doctor also asked about Arshad's physical condition, whether he had any chronic diseases and how he died. "In reply, Dr Murad claimed to be Arshad's family doctor and he had all the information. He urged that a police report was not necessary."
Shahzreh said after all the procedures at the hospital, Dr Murad and other Eskayef officials wanted to take the body from the hospital authorities, but were told it could not be released without a signature from a relative.
"My husband Arshad Haque signed the release form," Shahzreh said.
She claimed that Dr Murad, under the instruction of Simeen, took the death certificate and other medical documents from the hospital to give to Simeen through Dr Mujahidul.
Being suspicious about the lack of a post mortem or toxicology report, her husband, Haque, took a photo of the death certificate with his phone.
"He said the reason of death was stated as unknown," Shahzreh said.
Haque has shown the photo of the death certificate to their other relatives, Shahzreh said in her statement.
Shahzren said the namaz-e-janaza was held in a rush at the Banani graveyard. "Even though there were four empty burial spots at the family graveyard, Waliur was laid to rest in the same grave as their younger sister Shazneen."
Shazneen Tasnim Rahman was raped and murdered in her home in Gulshan, Dhaka on 23 April 1998. She was stabbed 20 times.
Her body was discovered by domestic worker Moslem Hawlader, the same person who allegedly called Shahzreh to inform her of her brother's passing.
In the case statement, Shahzreh said, "Simeen made all the decisions on her own that day, including how the burial would take place and when."
Shahzreh, in the statement, reiterated that her brother was not sick and there was no evidence of anything wrong with his health. He had not discussed the matter of any illness with any relatives either.
On this note, Shahzreh mentioned that one of Arshad's close friends, Latifur Rahman Khan Ruskin, asked Simeen that day about the lack of a post mortem and toxicology report.
"He also asked Simeen why Arshad's driver [Mirazul] and chef [Rafiq] were not questioned by police over the death," Shahzreh said.
Simeen, allegedly, evaded the questions.
Both Mirazul and Rafiq have been named as accused in the murder case.
"All of the accused planned the murder through either strangulation or poisoning that day," Shahzreh alleged citing their demeanour.
She further claimed that since Arshad's death, all his property, including his car, home and other assets were usurped by those accused in the case at Simeen's directive.
"Mirazul and Rafiq are still employed by Transcom Limited as decided by Simeen," Shahzreh said.
