Shahid Uddin Khan
Shahid Uddin Khan | |
|---|---|
| Native name | শহীদ উদ্দিন খান |
| Born | 20 March 1959 Sylhet, East Pakistan, Pakistan (Now, Sylhet, Bangladesh) |
| Allegiance |  Bangladesh |
| Service/ | |
| Years of service | 1981-2006 |
| Rank |  Colonel |
| Unit | Corps of Engineers |
| Commands held |
|
| Alma mater | Military Training Bangladesh Military Academy |
Colonel Shahid Uddin Khan was a retired Bangladesh Army officer who was forced into exile following a business dispute with Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Defence and Security adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina.[1][2] He is living in the United Kingdom.[3] He was sentenced to nine years imprisonment in a tax evasion case.[4]
Career[edit]
Khan was the commander of Chapainawabganj Sector of Bangladesh Rifles in 2003 when traders went on strike after his soldiers seized scrap metal to be exported to India.[5] Regional Customs Commissioner Ali Ahmed criticised the move and claimed Bangladesh Rifles did not have the authority to seize goods and claimed they took it at gun point.[5] Khan defended his troops and claimed the metal was raw material for manufacturing guns.[5]
In 2012, a report by Salah Choudhury published in openDemocracy raised allegations that Colonel Shahid Uddin Khan was engaged in influence peddling and corrupt practices with the backing of Tarique Ahmed Siddique, Defence and Security adviser to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina. According to the report Khan has a number of business in which Siddique's wife and daughter are shareholders.[6]
According to an Al Jazeera Investigative Unit report, published on 29 March 2019, Tarique Ahmed Siddique used intelligence agencies to abduct employees of business associate Colonel Shahid Uddin Khan who is in exile in the United Kingdom. The family members of men have no heard from them since their abduction. As defence advisor, he had control over the intelligence agencies and Bangladesh Military.[7]
In December 2020, Khan was sentenced to nine years jail in a tax evasion case by Judge Mohammad Nazrul Islam.[8][9] Assistant tax commissioner of Circle-9, Sheikh Ali Hasan, had filed the case against Khan on 25 September 2019.[8] Khan was not present at the trial.[8] His rank of Colonel was scrapped in May 2021 according to a statement issued by the Deputy Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Wahida Sultana.[10] In September 2021, Khan and his wife, Farhana Anjum Khan, were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment by Judge Hafsa Jhuma for possessions of counterfeit currencies worth 300 thousand BDT.[11] The money and illegal guns were seized from his residence by Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime.[11] In May 2023, the Anti-Corruption Commission sued khan, his wife, daughters Shetaz Munasi Khan and Parisa Pinaz Khan for 397.3 million in illegal wealth.[12]
References[edit]
- ^ "PM's security adviser pats armed forces, says military in Bangladesh gets 'nothing extra'". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ "Singapore and Bangladesh reaffirm warm bilateral relations, discuss ways to deepen engagement". The Straits Times. 27 October 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ "ACC sues dismissed Colonel Shahid, family over illegal wealth". The Business Standard. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "Possessing Counterfeit Currency: Sacked Lt Col Shahid, wife gets 10-year jail". Daily Sun. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ a b c "Traders at Sona Mosque land port threaten strike". The Daily Star. 18 June 2003. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ Choudhury, Salah Uddin Shoaib (17 April 2012). "Bangladesh: journey of fear towards an uncertain future". openDemocracy. Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- ^ "Exclusive: Bangladesh top security adviser accused of abductions". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
- ^ a b c Report, Star Online (20 December 2020). "Tax evasion case: Col (retd) Shahid Uddin Chowdhury sentenced to 9 years in jail". The Daily Star. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "Former colonel Shahid Uddin sentenced to 9 years in jail". New Age. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "Shahid Uddin's colonel rank scrapped | The Asian Age Online, Bangladesh". The Asian Age. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Retired army officer, wife sentenced for 10 years for possessing counterfeit currencies". The Daily Star. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
- ^ "Retired army officer, family charged for possessing illegal wealth". The Daily Star. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2023.