The legacy of renowned businessman Latifur Rahman, the founder of Transcom Group, is now at the center of a fierce family feud. Property disputes and the suspicious death of his eldest son, Arshad Waliur Rahman, have cast a shadow over the family and one of Bangladesh's most prominent business empires.
The inheritance battle over 16 Transcom institutions has reportedly intensified tensions between Latifur Rahman’s elder daughter, Simeen Rahman, and younger daughter, Shahzreh Huq. Once close, their relationship has devolved into a volatile dynamic marked by accusations and distrust.
Allegations have surfaced claiming Simeen Rahman took control of the family’s assets after their father’s passing, allegedly using falsified documents. Upon learning of this, Arshad reportedly joined forces with Shahzreh to challenge Simeen’s actions. However, just eight days after aligning with his younger sister, Arshad died under mysterious circumstances at his residence, deepening the family's rift.
In the aftermath of Arshad’s death, Shahzreh Huq filed a murder case with Gulshan Police Station, naming 10 individuals, including her elder sister. Despite the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) submitting a final report that the court later dismissed, Shahzreh has filed a revision petition. The case is set for a hearing on January 30.
As legal battles continue, the Transcom family remains embroiled in controversy. The unresolved questions surrounding Arshad Waliur Rahman’s death and the bitter property dispute threaten to overshadow the legacy of one of Bangladesh’s leading business dynasties.
A case against Simeen on the charge of killing her brother
In a shocking development, Transcom’s group CEO Simeen Rahman faces murder allegations over the death of her elder brother, Arshad Waliur Rahman. The case, filed by their younger sister, Shahzreh Huq, at Gulshan police station, also implicates 10 other individuals.
Arshad was found unresponsive at his Gulshan residence on June 16, 2023, and pronounced dead shortly after being taken to the hospital. His death occurred amid an ongoing succession dispute within the family, raising suspicions of foul play.
Deputy Police Commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (Gulshan Division), Rifat Rahman Shamim, confirmed the filing of the case, stating, “Transcom Group director Shahzreh Huq has accused Simeen Rahman and others of murdering her elder brother.”
The allegations have ignited widespread public interest, drawing attention to the internal turmoil within the family behind one of Bangladesh’s most prominent business empires. The late Latifur Rahman, founder of Transcom Group, had built the conglomerate into a household name, but Arshad’s death has intensified disputes over inheritance and control.
As investigations proceed, the case has cast a spotlight on the volatile dynamics of the Rahman family and the high-stakes battle for leadership of the business empire. The unfolding drama is expected to dominate public and media discourse in the coming weeks.
Simeen Rahman, CEO of Transcom Group, and her son Zaraif Ayaat Hossain, the company’s Head of Transformation, face allegations in a murder case filed by Shahzreh Huq. The case accuses them, alongside several high-ranking Transcom officials and associates, of conspiring to murder Shahzreh’s brother, Arshad Waliur Rahman, through alleged poisoning or suffocation, with the motive of seizing family assets.
Other accused include Dr. Murad and Dr. Mujahidul Islam of SKF Pharmaceuticals; Fakhruzzaman Bhuiyan, Executive Director of Corporate Affairs-Law; Kamrul Hasan, Corporate Finance Director; Zahid Hossain; Selina and Sultana, managers at Transcom; KH Shahadat Hossain, Manager of Corporate Affairs; cook Rafiq; and personal driver Mirazul. Zahid Hossain’s role remains unclear in the statement.
Shahzreh alleges the murder was part of a premeditated plan to deprive heirs of their rightful share of the family’s wealth and delay legal resolutions. The filing of the case reportedly followed consultations with relatives.
This isn’t the first legal conflict involving the family. Shahzreh has previously filed cases against Simeen, Zaraif, and other members over disputes concerning Transcom shares and properties valued at Tk 10,000 crore. Allegations included breach of trust, forgery, and fraud. Shahzreh maintains that under Islamic inheritance law, all assets left by their father, Latifur Rahman, should have been equally divided among heirs. However, Simeen and Zaraif allegedly used forged documents to claim sole ownership of assets and leadership positions.
Earlier, five Transcom officials were arrested in connection with these property disputes.
This latest case has drawn significant public attention, shedding light on the internal rifts and legal complexities surrounding one of Bangladesh’s largest and most prominent family-owned conglomerates.
The case states, "After learning of these events, it was decided to take legal action after discussing with my elder brother, Arshad Waliur Rahman." Following this, on June 8, 2023, Arshad Waliur Rahman issued a summons.
Shahzreh Huq, in the case, mentions that Arshad Waliur was "divorced and childless" and explains, "Simeen Rahman was extremely angry with her brother due to the letter of attorney, and as a result, Arshad Waliur Rahman expressed concerns about his personal security to his relatives."
Shahzreh further stated, "On June 16, eight days after submitting the application, I went to my brother's house in Gulshan after learning from our father’s old housekeeper, Muslim Howladar, that Arshad Waliur Rahman was seriously ill. Upon arriving, I found my brother dead on the bed. Simeen Rahman, Zaraif Ayaat Hossain, and others implicated in the case were already present."
In her claim, Shahzreh Huq asserted that no one at the scene informed her of brother’s illness or death. She also mentioned that her brother had no known serious illnesses and that she had been unable to contact her brother for three to four days prior to the incident.
It is reported that Simeen Rahman took the body of her brother, Arshad Waliur Rahman, to the hospital and instructed everyone to expedite the death certificate process, insisting that he be buried by the afternoon. The body was brought to United Hospital in an ambulance, where the doctor remarked that Arshad had likely died hours earlier, questioning why the body was brought so late. Upon confirmation of Arshad’s death, Murad, who identified himself as Arshad’s personal doctor, claimed that no police report was necessary and insisted he knew all the details about Arshad’s health, including whether he had any terminal illness.
When the hospital authorities refused to release the body without a relative's consent, Shahzreh Huq’s husband accepted the body as his sister-in-law’s, as per the case details.
Following the death of Latifur Rahman, Shahnaz Rahman, his wife, became the chairman of Transcom Group, with their elder daughter Simeen Rahman serving as CEO, and their grandson Zaraif Ayaat heading the Transformation department. Younger daughter Shahzreh Huq is also a director at Transcom.
In a legal complaint, Shahzreh Huq alleged that shortly after Arshad Waliur's death, Simeen Rahman, Zaraif Ayaat Hossain, and others seized Arshad's house, car, and other assets. It has been reported that since Latifur Rahman’s death in 2020, Simeen Rahman has assumed control over 16 businesses within the Transcom Group, including Transcom Bangladesh, Transcom Electronics, SKF Pharmaceuticals, and PepsiCo.
Source: Kaler Kantho
Translated by Jisan Al Jubair
Bd-pratidin English
