The S Alam family, one of Bangladesh’s wealthiest business groups, has filed an international arbitration case against the government of Bangladesh, claiming that unlawful asset seizures have caused them losses worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

According to the Financial Times, the family’s lawyers filed the case on Monday with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) in Washington, a World Bank–affiliated tribunal.

The family alleges that the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been targeting them through punitive actions—such as freezing bank accounts, confiscating assets, and launching what they call “baseless” investigations and media campaigns.

The arbitration is being pursued under the 2004 Bangladesh–Singapore Bilateral Investment Treaty. The S Alam family, now residing in Singapore, renounced their Bangladeshi citizenship in 2020 and became Singaporean citizens between 2021 and 2023. They argue that as Singaporean nationals, they are entitled to protection under Bangladesh’s Foreign Private Investment Act of 1980.

Bangladesh’s interim government says billions were siphoned abroad during Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule—claiming around $234 billion in total capital flight, including $12 billion allegedly laundered by the S Alam Group.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur has accused the family of taking control of six banks and committing financial fraud, though the group denies the allegations, calling them politically motivated and baseless.

Governor Mansur told Financial Times that authorities would respond formally once they receive the arbitration notice. The Chief Adviser’s Office has not yet commented on the matter.

Two people, including a mother and her teenage son, have died after a man allegedly set fire to his wife and children in Narsingdi, Bangladesh, following a family dispute.

The victims, Rina Begum (38) and her son Forhad (15), died on Tuesday (28 October) while undergoing treatment at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka. According to doctors, Rina sustained 58% burns while Forhad suffered 40%.

Another son, Towhid (7), remains under treatment with 16% burns, while three others — Rina’s elder son Jihad (24), her sister Salma Begum (34), and nephew Arafat (15) — were released after receiving primary treatment.

Police said the accused, Farid Mia (44), a pickup van driver from Ghoradia village, poured petrol on his family members and set them ablaze in the early hours of 22 October. He was arrested on 25 October from Baraicha area in Raipura with the help of locals.

A case was filed by Rina’s mother, Hosna Begum, on 24 October, naming Farid as the lone accused. Authorities said the case is now being upgraded to a murder charge.

Police in Rajshahi have arrested a doctor accused of raping a nurse at a private clinic in the city’s Laxmipur area. The accused, Dr Ahsan Habib, was detained from Al-Arafah Clinic and Diagnostic Center on Sunday and later sent to jail through the court.

According to the case filed at Rajpara Police Station on September 23, the nurse had met Dr Habib two years ago while working in Dhaka through Facebook. He allegedly lured her into leaving her job with a promise of marriage and brought her to Rajshahi.

Police said the accused developed an intimate relationship with her and, on the night of September 8, called her to Al-Arafah Clinic where he allegedly raped her. Afterward, he cut off contact. The victim later learned that Habib was already married.

Inspector Abdul Alim, the investigating officer of Rajpara Police Station, said the victim was admitted to the One Stop Crisis Centre at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for medical examination before filing the case.

Following his arrest, the clinic’s director, Mostafizur Rahman, confirmed that Dr Habib has been dismissed from his position.