Amid the ongoing controversy in the UK surrounding corruption allegations against City Minister Tulip Siddiq, niece of ousted Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, attention has now turned to Ahmed Shayan Fazlur Rahman, son of business tycoon and former prime ministerial advisor Salman F Rahman.

Shayan, who heads a UK-based charity established under the patronage of King Charles III, has become entangled in a growing scandal. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh is investigating corruption allegations against Salman and his family members. In August 2024, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) froze the bank accounts of Salman, Shayan, and Shayan's wife, Shahzreh Rahman.

The UK’s Mail on Sunday (MoS) reported that Shayan, described as a "family friend" of Tulip Siddiq, serves as chairman of a charity founded by King Charles and has had his bank accounts frozen in Bangladesh. The report also highlighted his close relationship with the Siddiq family, noting that Sheikh Hasina stays at Shayan’s £13 million Golders Green property rent-free when visiting London. The same property, owned by an offshore company controlled by Shayan, also houses Tulip Siddiq’s mother, Sheikh Rehana, without rent.

According to MoS, Shayan serves as chairman of the advisory council for the British Asian Trust, a charity founded by King Charles in 2007 to address poverty in South Asia. Although allegations of corruption have surfaced, Shayan reportedly retains his position within the trust. The trust acknowledged the allegations in a statement, saying: “We are aware of the allegations against Shayan F Rahman and continue to monitor developments in Bangladesh.”

A spokesperson for Shayan dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, stating: “Shayan Rahman is a British-born, British citizen and a successful international businessman. Neither he nor his wife has been charged with any offence. The freezing of their Bangladeshi bank accounts is part of a broader political move involving over 300 individuals linked to the former prime minister.”

Shayan has donated £250,000 to the British Asian Trust, a contribution that drew criticism from Bangladesh Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. In a recent interview with The Sunday Times, Yunus sarcastically remarked on Shayan’s "generosity" in light of the allegations.

Previously, Shayan held the role of vice-chairman at the International Finance Investment and Commerce (IFIC) Bank in Bangladesh. Following a change in government, Shayan lost his directorship during a board restructuring process.

Despite these allegations, Shayan's association with influential figures such as King Charles and his role in prominent UK charities have drawn significant attention, further fueling the international dimension of the ongoing corruption controversy.

He was once the chief executive officer, or CEO, of the family-controlled Beximco Group, a title that is still displayed on the charity's website.

King Charles once lauded Shayan’s contributions at a dinner at Buckingham Palace. “We are only as good as the people who work with us. So I am delighted that our new programme in Bangladesh will be overseen and supported by Shayan Rahman, the chair of our Bangladesh advisory council,” he said.

The MoS said Shayan continues to hold his position at the trust despite the corruption allegations.

In a statement, the British Asian Trust said: “We are aware of the allegations against Shayan F Rahman and continue to monitor developments in Bangladesh.”