Protest by Transcom Group Against False, Fabricated, Malicious, Defamatory, and Baseless News Reports

A series of false, fabricated, malicious, defamatory, and baseless news reports are being continuously published about Transcom Group, one of the country’s leading industrial conglomerates, by media outlets owned by Bashundhara Group. As part of this, on February 3, Kaler Kantho published a report titled "Simeen Gave Tk 100 Crore Bribe to Hasina," which is false, fabricated, and defamatory. The same false and fabricated news item was also published under different headlines by Bangladesh Pratidin, The Daily Sun, and Bangla News 24. The online editions of these newspapers also published this false news.

Regarding this, Transcom Group states that in the face of the fascist government’s conspiracy, Transcom CEO, Simeen Rahman, was outside the country from February 20 to April 3, 2024, which is evident from her passport records. It is incomprehensible how it is possible to be at Gonobhaban while being abroad at the same time. This claim is completely baseless and false. It is necessary to mention that Simeen Rahman has never, in her lifetime, met the head of the fascist government, Sheikh Hasina.

The news report states that Simeen Rahman issued a cheque from her Standard Chartered Bank account.

— In reality, Simeen Rahman does not have any account at any branch of Standard Chartered Bank. How is it possible that the media outlets owned by Bashundhara Group, citing the country’s well-known state institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), can spread such outright lies?

The report further states that Simeen Rahman’s brother, Arshad Waliur Rahman’s body was exhumed, autopsied, and later the matter was covered up.

— This is another blatant falsehood. The actual fact is that Arshad Waliur Rahman’s body was never exhumed or autopsied. This false, fabricated, and baseless information has been published with extremely malicious intent.

The report also states that after the exchange of bribes, the then-government suppressed the murder case and the share-related case.

— Like other allegations, this too is completely false and baseless. In reality, after an investigation, no truth was found in the murder allegations, and on October 3 of last year (after the fall of the fascist Awami League government), the investigating officer submitted the final report to the court. On October 24 last year, the honourable court accepted the final report and acquitted all the accused in the case. On the other hand, the share-related case is still ongoing.

— This comment is not only a false and defamatory statement but also a deliberate attempt to tarnish the country’s image. Publishing such false news without any concrete evidence to damage the reputation of the current government is part of an anti-national conspiracy.

The Actual Facts

The founder, chairman, and managing director of Transcom Limited, Latifur Rahman, formalized his company’s management and share distribution before his passing by executing a "Deed of Settlement" on June 12, 2020. In addition to Latifur Rahman, all members of his family—his wife Shahnaz Rahman, elder daughter Simeen Rahman, younger daughter Shahzreh Huq, and son Arshad Waliur Rahman—signed the Deed of Settlement in full agreement.

Additionally, as witnesses to this Deed of Settlement, Latifur Rahman’s elder grandson Zaraif Ayaat Hossain (son of Simeen Rahman), younger daughter Shahzreh Huq’s two sons Zoheb Asrar Huq and Mikhail Imaan Huq, and two senior officials of Transcom Group also signed the document.

After executing the Deed of Settlement, Latifur Rahman signed Form-117, a share transfer document under the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC). Through this, he transferred his 23,600 shares in Transcom Limited as follows:

14,160 shares to his elder daughter, Simeen Rahman

4,720 shares to his younger daughter, Shahzreh Huq

4,720 shares to his son, Arshad Waliur Rahman

These Form-117 documents were later submitted to the RJSC. The RJSC updated the company’s shareholding records accordingly and issued a Schedule-X listing the updated shareholder structure.

Latifur Rahman passed away on July 1, 2020. Following his demise, the company had been operating smoothly. Subsequently, his two daughters, Simeen Rahman and Shazreh Huq, along with his son, Arshad Waliur Rahman, declared in their personal income tax returns for the fiscal years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 the shares transferred to them from a total of 23,600 shares.

After the fall of the fascist Awami League government, Prothom Alo and The Daily Star published reports exposing various anti-national activities of the previous government and its allies, including S. Alam Group. As a result, these groups and their associates have engaged in a conspiracy to destroy Transcom Group.

Transcom Group urges everyone not to be misled by these false, defamatory, baseless, and malicious reports. It also calls on all media outlets to refrain from publishing false news without proper verification.