Why Was A Bangladeshi Woman Detained At Osmani Airport?

Police have arrested a UK expatriate woman from Sylhet Osmani International Airport in connection with a case filed over alleged land fraud. She was arrested around 8:30am on Sunday (12 July).

The arrested woman has been identified as Maksuda Chowdhury (56), wife of Shah Md. Salek Hossain of Routgaon village under Moulvibazar Sadar Police Station. Her passport number is GBR 15788**.

Police said Maksuda Chowdhury is a named accused in a GR case filed with Sylhet Kotwali Model Police Station. The case number is 03/338, dated 01/07/2026. On Sunday morning, she arrived at Osmani International Airport to travel to the UK on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG201. However, as there was a travel ban imposed on her, immigration authorities stopped her journey and detained her.

Later, at around 10:30am, airport immigration police handed her over to Sub-Inspector (SI) Abdul Quddus, the investigation officer of the case, through a General Diary (GD No. 81, dated 12/07/2026).

According to the complaint, complainant Md. Shukur Mia stated that Shah Md. Salek Hossain had purchased 5 decimals of land from Abdul Mannan Khan, the recorded owner of land under SA Khatian No. 57, JL No. 92, SA Dag No. 575, covering a total area of 1 acre 18 decimals, through a registered deed (Deed No. 624115) at Sylhet Sadar Sub-Registrar’s Office on 8 September 1975.

After paying land taxes and completing mutation, Salek Hossain had the property recorded under BS Khatian No. 1780, JL No. 74, Dag No. 4935, measuring 4.85 decimals, and had been possessing the land for a long time.

Later, through a gift declaration deed (Heba Deed No. 8658) dated 11 November 2024, Salek Hossain transferred the land to his wife Maksuda Chowdhury. After receiving the gift, Maksuda obtained mutation through Mutation Case No. 4212 (IX-1)/2024-2025 and continued possessing the property.

The complaint stated that when Maksuda advertised the land for sale, Fuzail Ahmed, the husband of the complainant’s daughter and a UK expatriate, expressed interest in purchasing it. The complainant and Fuzail Ahmed inspected the land, and after discussions, the price was fixed at Tk 1.23 crore (Tk 12.3 million).

After Maksuda provided the necessary ownership documents, the buyers verified the papers and considered them valid. Preparations were then made to complete the registration process.

Maksuda instructed them to pay the purchase money through a bank account held in her name at Prime Bank PLC, Ambarkhana Branch, Sylhet (Account No. 3115212035300).

Following this, on 24 June 2026, Fuzail Ahmed transferred Tk 1.15 crore through RTGS from his Bank Asia account (Account No. 05034006783) at Bank Asia’s Dargah Gate branch to Maksuda’s Prime Bank account. On the same day, at Maksuda’s request, an additional Tk 8 lakh was paid through Bank Asia cheque (Cheque No. SB-AF-9311508 dated 24/06/2026), which she later withdrew.

In total, Maksuda allegedly received Tk 1.23 crore from the buyers. After receiving the money, both parties completed preparations for registration of the deed and government fees were also deposited.

However, shortly before the registration, a relative allegedly appeared at the location and objected to the sale of the land. Following this, Maksuda allegedly left the place without completing the deed registration.

The complainant said that despite repeated requests from him and Fuzail Ahmed to complete the registration, Maksuda continued delaying the matter by saying she would do it later. Later, she allegedly behaved improperly, threatened them in various ways, and denied receiving the Tk 1.23 crore.

According to the complainant, Maksuda deliberately lured them into purchasing the land, accepted Tk 1.23 crore through banking channels, but failed to transfer ownership of the property or return the money, thereby committing criminal breach of trust and fraud.

The complainant further alleged that she threatened and intimidated them, causing serious financial and mental distress.

Confirming the matter, Sylhet Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Md. Monzurul Alam said, “The woman has been sent to court in connection with the fraud case.”