Staff Correspondent

Greed for wealth has sparked a chilling case of alleged fratricide within the prominent family of late Latifur Rahman, the founder of Transcom Group.

Disputes over his vast fortune have escalated into serious legal battles, shedding light on a deeply fractured family dynamic. With assets worth nearly Tk30,000 crore spread across 16 companies, the feud reached a boiling point following the sudden and mysterious death of Latifur's eldest son Arshad Waliur Rahman.

Meanwhile, an intense rivalry continues between his elder daughter Simeen Rahman and younger daughter Shahzreh Huq.

It has been alleged that after Latifur Rahman’s death, elder daughter Simeen Rahman actively began taking control of the family’s wealth by creating forged documents. Upon learning this, elder son Arshad Waliur Rahman appointed his younger sister Shahzreh Huq as his legal representative.

Shockingly, just eight days after this move, Arshad was found dead in his home under suspicious circumstances. Following the incident, Shahzreh filed a case accusing 10 individuals in connection with her brother’s death.

Murder allegation against Simeen Rahman

The case has intensified the mystery surrounding Arshad's death, with Shahzreh accusing her elder sister, Simeen Rahman, of involvement. These revelations come from case documents and statements by Shahzreh’s lawyer, Aminul Haque.

Speaking to the Bangla daily Kaler Kantho on Tuesday, lawyer Aminul Haque said, “The property dispute within the family added a layer of mystery to the death of Arshad Waliur Rahman. Shahzreh alleged that her brother’s death was not natural and filed a murder case against her elder sister, Simeen Rahman, the CEO of Transcom Group, with Gulshan Police Station in March this year. Ten others were also accused in the case.”

At the time, Rifat Rahman Shamim, Deputy Commissioner of Gulshan Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), confirmed the case to journalists. He said, “Shahzreh Huq, a director of Transcom Group, filed the case alleging the murder of her elder brother, Arshad Waliur Rahman.”

Sources reveal that on 16 June 2023, Arshad was found dead in his bedroom at his Gulshan residence. Doctors declared him dead upon arrival at the hospital.

The ongoing inheritance battle within the family following Latifur Rahman’s death has raised questions about Arshad’s demise. The murder allegation brought by Shahzreh against her elder sister Simeen sparked widespread attention and was reported by multiple media outlets.

The accused in the murder case include Simeen Rahman, her son Zaraif Ayaat Hossain (Head of Transformation at Transcom Group), and several other high-ranking officials and employees of the group. These include Dr. Murad, Manager (Medical Affairs) of SKF Pharmaceuticals Limited; Dr. Md. Mujahidul Islam, Executive Director (Marketing and Sales) of the same company; Md. Fakhruzzaman Bhuiyan, Executive Director (Corporate Affairs-Law) of Transcom Limited; Md. Kamrul Hasan, Director of Corporate Finance; Zahid Hossain; Selina Sultana, Manager (Corporate Affairs); K.H. Md. Shahadat Hossain, Manager (Corporate Affairs); chef Rafiq; and driver Mirajul.

Notably, no specific details about the seventh accused, Zahid Hossain, were mentioned in the complaint.

In the lawsuit, Shahzreh alleged, “Arshad Waliur Rahman was premeditatedly poisoned or suffocated to death by Simeen Rahman and others with the intention of depriving other heirs of movable and immovable properties.”

The complaint also explained the delay in filing the case, stating, “Consultations were held with close relatives before lodging the complaint.”

Earlier, Shahzreh filed another lawsuit against her elder sister and others over disputes related to company assets and shares. In that case, many individuals were accused of breaching trust, forgery, and falsifying documents to deprive Shahzreh and her late brother, Arshad Waliur Rahman, of their rightful claim to family properties worth Tk10,000 crore.

Shahzreh has filed three lawsuits alleging embezzlement, property grabbing, and illegal transfer of shares. Among the accused are her mother, sister, nephew, and five other individuals. Five officials of Transcom were arrested in connection with the case.

In the case details, Shahzreh said that after her father Latifur Rahman passed away, she, her brother Arshad Waliur Rahman, and her sister Simeen Rahman were the rightful heirs to all of his properties under Islamic Sharia law. However, Simeen Rahman and her son, Zaraif Ayaat Hossain, allegedly created forged documents to deprive her and her brother of their rightful claims, including Transcom Group’s shares and positions.

The case further noted, “After discovering these matters, I consulted my elder brother, Arshad Waliur Rahman, and decided to take legal action. Consequently, on 8 June 2023, Arshad Waliur Rahman issued a power of attorney to me.”

The case described Arshad as “divorced and childless” and claimed that Simeen Rahman was extremely angry at him for granting the power of attorney, which made Arshad fear for his safety.

Shahzreh further said that eight days later, on 16 June, she was informed through their long-time house staff, Moslem Howlader, that her brother had become severely ill. When she went to his Gulshan residence, she found him lifeless on his bed, where Simeen Rahman, Zaraif Ayaat, and other accused individuals were already present.

The complaint alleged that no one informed Shahzreh of her brother's illness or death and that he had no serious health issues. Shahzreh also claimed she had been unable to contact him for three to four days prior to his death.

The case statement further accused Simeen of quickly arranging for a death certificate and instructing that Arshad’s body be buried the same evening. His body was taken to United Hospital by ambulance, where the attending doctor reportedly remarked, “Why was he brought in so late? He passed away quite some time ago.”

The doctor asked about Arshad’s medical history and any serious illnesses. Dr. Murad, who identified himself as Arshad's personal physician, responded that he was fully aware of everything and stated, “No police report is necessary.”

The case statement mentioned that when Dr. Murad and others tried to take the body, the hospital authorities refused to release it without handing it over to family members. Shahzreh's husband later claimed the body as Arshad’s brother-in-law.

It was revealed that after Latifur Rahman’s death in 2020, his wife Shahnaz Rahman became the chairperson of Transcom Group, while their eldest daughter Simeen Rahman assumed the role of CEO. Simin’s son Zaraif Ayaat was made the Head of Transformation for the group, and Shahzreh remained a director.

Shahzreh claimed that following Arshad’s death, Simeen, Zaraif, and others seized his house, car, and other properties.

Reports indicate that since Latifur Rahman’s death, Transcom Group's 16 enterprises, including Bangladesh Lamps, Transcom Electronics, Eskayef Pharmaceuticals, and PepsiCo, are now fully under Simeen Rahman’s control.