Salman F Rahman, the head of Beximco Group and former private industry affairs adviser to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, has allegedly continued plotting against the country from prison. Reports suggest he has been maintaining communication with Sheikh Hasina and several other Awami League leaders in India using a mobile phone.

According to sources, the mobile phone has internet access, enabling him to communicate abroad without difficulty. However, prison authorities deny any possibility of phone use from inside the prison, citing the presence of signal jammers where he is detained.

Salman F Rahman reportedly went into hiding following Sheikh Hasina’s escape to India on 5 August, after the student-led mass uprising. He was caught on 13 August, along with former law minister Anisul Huq, while attempting to flee from Dhaka's Sadarghat. Salman was later shown arrested in connection with a murder case filed at New Market Police Station.

While in prison, he received division privileges, which include facilities like a chair, table and bed, unavailable to regular inmates. Reports claim that despite these measures, Rahman has allegedly been using mobile phones within the prison, facilitated by corrupt guards in exchange for money, enabling global communication.

Regarding the allegations, IG Prisons Brigadier General Syed Mohammad Motahar Hossain told Kaler Kantho on Monday, “There should be no opportunity for him to use a phone. However, since this information has been presented, I will look into it.”

He further added, “The zone where Salman F Rahman is being held does not allow mobile phones. During court appearances, inmates are thoroughly checked twice. Moreover, there are jammers installed in the area where he is detained.”

A former DIG Prisons and prison analyst, Major (Retd.) Shamsul Haider Siddiqui, acknowledged the possibility of such activities, citing systemic corruption among prison staff, who are sometimes lured by large sums of money.

The use of mobile phones in prison is not unprecedented. In 2021, Destiny Group’s MD Rafiqul Amin reportedly held a Zoom meeting from a prison hospital cell, leading to disciplinary actions against several officials.

Similarly, in 2022, a condemned prisoner, Nur Hossain, was found using a mobile phone at Kashimpur Central Jail, prompting an internal investigation.

Despite routine inspections and restrictions on mobile phones within prisons, reports suggest that bribes and loopholes allow such devices to enter. Sources claim that some officials even disable signal jammers to facilitate illegal activities, indicating a deep-rooted issue within the system.

Adding to the controversy, CID recently filed 17 cases against Salman F Rahman and 28 others for laundering approximately Tk1,000 crore (83 million USD) under the guise of export businesses. CID's preliminary investigation found evidence supporting the allegations of money laundering against Salman F Rahman and his brother, ASF Rahman, the chairman of Beximco Group.

BDST: 1226 HRS, NOV 19, 2024