MM Rahmatullah: A businessman has garnered attention for bringing back a staggering 730 crore taka to Bangladesh as remittance. This remarkable revelation was made by Abdur Rahman Khan, Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), during a press conference on Monday. The announcement sparked widespread discussions across the country, with journalists quickly gathering more information on the topic.
As a result, Syed Mohammad Faruki Hasan of Pratik Group became the center of media focus. Instead of being involved in any controversy, he has earned recognition for bringing money into the country through legal channels.
It has been reported that Syed Mohammad Faruki Hasan, the Chairman of Pratik Group, brought 730 crore taka into the country as remittance. While the transaction has generated attention, Faruki Hasan maintains that the money was acquired through legitimate and legal means.
In an exclusive interview with a leading national media outlet, Faruki Hasan explained that he has fully complied with the regulations, declaring his income in his tax returns. Additionally, he received official certification from the NBR verifying the legitimacy of the funds.
Faruki Hasan elaborated that he has been serving as an agent and consultant for various government-owned shipbuilding companies in China. From 2011 to 2024, the Bangladesh Navy procured 15 ships from Chinese manufacturers, and Hasan provided essential agency and consultancy services during these transactions. Over 13 years, he earned 730 crore taka as commission from these deals. He paid taxes on this income in China and subsequently brought the funds to Bangladesh as remittance. Notably, he did not avail of the cash incentives typically provided for remittance transfers.
Faruki Hasan also emphasized that he has no bank loans in Bangladesh. He used his account at Eastern Bank to transfer the money, and the entire process was carried out legally and gradually, rather than all at once.
He further revealed that the funds have been utilized to establish four factories, creating employment for nearly 3,000 individuals. Every time he brought the funds into the country, he received a certificate from the NBR confirming that the transaction was legitimate. He expressed confusion at the recent scrutiny, stating that he simply brought foreign-earned money into the country and complied with all necessary procedures.
Faruki Hasan, who also resides in Canada, expressed his concern during an interview with Prothom Alo, saying, “My income is fully disclosed in my tax returns. If I wanted to conceal anything, I would not have shown it in my tax filings. I have been recognized as a Commercially Important Person (CIP) four times for exporting ceramics. I don’t understand why I am being questioned now.”
In light of the NBR’s questioning, Faruki Hasan has engaged a lawyer to address the issue with the relevant authorities.
His lawyer, Barrister Redwan Hossain, stated that Faruki Hasan’s personal tax details, which are securely stored with the NBR, were mistakenly disclosed in the media, damaging the reputation of both Faruki Hasan and Pratik Group. He further clarified that Faruki Hasan brought the money into the country through lawful channels and disclosed the transactions in his tax returns. As per NBR regulations, he has been filing tax returns annually, with the most recent return for the 2024-25 fiscal year approved by the authorities.
Barrister Redwan stressed that individuals who bring foreign currency into the country for investment should be encouraged and respected, while actions should be taken against money launderers. He highlighted the negative impact on his client’s reputation in an interview with The Business Standard.
Syed Mohammad Faruki Hasan hails from Lakshmipur. He moved to Canada in 2001, later returning to Bangladesh to start his own businesses. Over the years, he founded several companies, including Pratik Ceramics, Pratik Developers, Lake Castle Hotel, Pratik Food and Allied, Pratik Bone China Limited, Pratik Logistics, Pratik Trade International, and Cherry International.
During his time in Canada after 2001, Faruki Hasan briefly ventured into politics before ultimately focusing on his business ventures. In addition to his industrial ventures, he is also a founding director of Bengal Commercial Bank.
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Curfew imposed in India’s Nagpur after violent clashes over Aurangzeb’s tomb
Authorities imposed an indefinite curfew in parts of Nagpur after violent clashes erupted between Hindu and Muslim groups over the tomb of a 17th-century Mughal ruler, police said on Tuesday.The unrest began on Monday night when members of the right-wing Hindu organisation Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) burned an effigy of Emperor Aurangzeb and his tomb while chanting slogans demanding its removal from the city of Aurangabad.
According to police, the violence escalated when several Muslim groups staged a protest near a police station and allegedly threw stones at security personnel. In response, clashes broke out, leading to injuries and significant property damage.
Several vehicles were torched, and at least 15 police officers were wounded, one of whom remains in critical condition, a senior police official told Reuters on the condition of anonymity.
Maharashtra Chief Minister DevendraFadnavis condemned the violence in a video statement and instructed police to take “strict action” to restore law and order.
The VHP, which is affiliated with the RashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh (RSS)—the ideological parent of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)—denied involvement in any violence.“We are only demanding that Aurangzeb’s tomb be removed and replaced with a memorial for the Maratha rulers,” VHP general secretary Milind Parande said in a video message.
Eyewitnesses reported that some attackers wore masks and carried sharp weapons and bottles, local news agency ANI reported.
Nagpur, the headquarters of the RSS, has been a flashpoint for religious tensions in the past. Critics have often accused Modi and his government of failing to act against rising anti-Muslim sentiments and communal clashes.
However, the government has repeatedly denied these allegations, maintaining that it upholds religious harmony. Authorities said the situation in Nagpur remains tense but under control, with police patrolling affected areas to prevent further violence.
