Abdur Rashid, owner of one of the country’s biggest rice producing company, is scheduled to appear before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Rajshahi on 27 November.

According to sources, Rashid faces over 100 cases on charges of willful loan defaults, land grabbing, intimidation and others.

He was arrested on 16 November by Kushtia police.

After the arrest, Rashid was produced before the Kushtia Judicial Magistrate’s Court on the night of 16 November. The court ordered him to be sent to Kushtia jail. 

The following day, a bail plea was submitted and the Kushtia Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Abdul Kuddus granted him bail in two cases. However, before the bail bond could reach the Kushtia jail, another summon came from the Rajshahi District Jail requiring Rashid's presence in a Rajshahi court.

Kushtia jail superintendent Abdur Rahim explained that Rashid could only be released if the Rajshahi court grants bail in the cases pending there as well as if no request is made to show him detained in any other case.

Financial disputes

Rashid, who is also the president of the Bangladesh Auto Major and Husking Rice Mill Owners’ Association and owner of Rashid Agro Food, is entangled in numerous financial disputes.

A source from the Senior Judicial Magistrate's Court in Kushtia revealed that there are over a hundred cases against Abdur Rashid. Among these, more than fifty cases have been filed by Islami Bank Bangladesh, involving liabilities exceeding Tk. 500 crore

Agrani Bank has filed 11 cases, with liabilities amounting to approximately Tk. 200 crore. Following a resolution of a case filed by Trust Bank, tenders have been invited by the court to auction movable and immovable properties of the Rashid Group, valued at Tk. 210 crore.

A recent case in the Rajshahi Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court accused Rashid of embezzling Tk.1.33 crore from businessman Atiqur Rahman. Separate warrants were issued in March and September 2024 in connection with this case.

Complainant Atiqur Rahman alleged that despite his case leading to Rashid’s arrest, Kushtia police prioritised other cases from Kushtia and Satkhira, allowing Rashid to secure bail.

In this regard, Kushtia Superintendent of Police Mizanur Rahman told the daily Sun that there are multiple cases against Rashid, filed by various plaintiffs.

Police can produce him before the court for only one case at a time, which has been done in this regard.

Now, the plaintiffs of other cases will approach the court as per their respective proceedings, and the court will make decisions accordingly, police super said.

A history of controversy

Abdur Rashid’s business practices have long been mired in controversy. In 2006, his mill was raided during a search for Islamic militant leader Siddiqul Islam, also known as Bangla Bhai. In 2022, his rice brand faced allegations of selling mislabelled rice, which led to a raid on another mill owned by his father-in-laq---the claim later confirmed as true.

Rashid’s influence has also attracted political criticism. During the last Awami League government, his name repeatedly surfaced for allegedly manipulating rice prices. This culminated in a RAB raid, during which excessive stockpiles were seized, and he was fined for hoarding.

Despite controversies, Rashid’s family claims the legal issues merely stem from business-related disputes with rivals and will be addressed according to legal battle.