Arrest warrant against Shakib in dishonoured cheque case

A Dhaka court on Sunday issued an arrest warrant against Bangladesh's renowned all-rounder and politician, Shakib Al Hasan, in connection with a dishonoured cheque case involving IFIC Bank.

The arrest warrant was issued against Shakib, a former Awami League lawmaker, who has been staying abroad since his ousting during a student movement. The warrant also includes three other individuals.

Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ziadur Rahman issued the order on Sunday.

On December 15, Shakib was named in the cheque fraud case. Subsequently, on December 18, the court ordered him to appear before it on January 19 after an initial hearing.

IFIC Bank's Relationship Officer, Shahibur Rahman, filed the case on behalf of the bank, accusing Shakib and three others of failing to honor a commitment to transfer BDT 4,14,57,000 (approximately 41.4 million Tk) via two separate cheques.

Shakib's company, Al Hasan Agro Farm Ltd., its Managing Director Gazi Shahagir Hossein, and directors Emdadul Haque and Malaikar Begum were also implicated in the case. Shakib's company had borrowed funds from IFIC Bank's Banani branch at various times. The cheques in question were issued to repay part of the loans but were dishonoured due to insufficient funds, according to the case statement.

Shakib joined politics in 2023 and won the Magura-1 constituency in the uncontested January 7, 2024 elections under the party's ticket. However, his political ambitions reportedly marked the beginning of his "fall from grace" in the public eye.

Shakib's plans to conclude his Test cricket career at home were disrupted as he was charged in a murder case during political unrest in Bangladesh. He declined to return to the country, citing security concerns and the possibility of interrogation by law enforcement agencies.

Shakib's family is currently settled in the United States.