Founder Sponsor of NRBC Bank Speaks Out Against Conspiracy, Corruption, and Retaliation

By Sunahwar Ali

A Life of Service I was born a fighter. At age 14, I became one of the youngest youth leaders in the 1978 Anti-Racist Movement in Tower Hamlets following the murder of Altab Ali. That moment forged in me an unbreakable commitment to justice—a commitment that has defined my life for 47 years.

In June 1980, I served as one of the youngest members of the 24-member Reception Committee for President Ziaur Rahman’s official visit to London, representing the Bangladesh Youth Front (BYF).

Over 47 years, I established numerous self-help organisations and served on the management committees of over 40 organisations as Secretary and Chairman. I served on public and private sector boards worth £37 million and was a founder director of an £11.8 million Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) company. I have contributed to the research of more than a dozen PhD students and scholars on Tower Hamlets, anti-racism, and community organising.

In September 1993, after the British National Party (BNP) won a council seat in Millwall, I appeared on Channel 4 Dispatches and BBC 2 Newsnight, and was quoted in The New York Times saying: “The B.N.P. should be banned.” As Chief Whip of Tower Hamlets Council, I continued fighting institutional racism.

In 2013, I became a founder sponsor of NRB Commercial Bank (NRBC Bank), believing I could apply the same principles of transparency and accountability to Bangladesh’s banking sector.

The Conspiracy to Silence Me Yet in that same year, 2013, I faced a conspiracy to silence me.

Dr. Toufique Rahman Chowdhury — who claims a PhD with no record from any accredited university — together with Anwaruzaman Chowdhury, Farasat Ali, and Shofiqur Rahman Chowdhury, used their positions of power to have me detained for four nights in the DB police cell on Mintoo Road and ten nights in Dhaka Central Jail.

Their aim was to stop my activities by intimidating me. But they could not stop me.

My case was resolved in February 2022 by the Cyber Crime Court.

Dr. Toufique Rahman Chowdhury later invited me to his house and attempted to brainwash me. Afterwards, he denied his involvement with NRBC Bank activities — lying once again.

The Smear Campaign
Since 2013, there has been an ongoing smear campaign. Farasat Ali’s brother — also a sponsor — sent an email to all 53 sponsors calling me “Mr. 10%” and accusing me of having mental disorders, claiming I forget to take my medication and that I live in Bangladesh while being on the British benefits system. Every word was false.

In 2016, Farasat Ali and Toufique Rahman Chowdhury hacked my email account, deleted all my files and emails, and blocked my account permanently. The company secretary told me my email address could not be recovered: [email protected]

Speaking Truth to Power
When I later witnessed serious irregularities, loan scams, governance failures, and money laundering risks at NRBC Bank, I did what I have always done: I raised the alarm.

· I gave interviews to Channel 24 and Independent TV.
· I helped GM Quader expose the issues in Parliament in June 2024.
· I filed Writ Petition No. 8077 of 2024.
· I submitted formal complaints to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Bangladesh Bank.

These efforts contributed to the March 2025 reconstitution of an independent board under Chairman Md. Ali Hossain Prodhania.

Retaliation Instead of Recognition

Instead of recognition, I face ongoing marginalisation:

· Blocked emails from the Chairman and Managing Director
· Labelled an “external party” by KPMG, despite being a founder sponsor
· A surprise January 2026 legal notice demanding payment for a negative balance in my and my spouse’s BO accounts — accounts I never used for margin trading

When I wrote to NRBC Bank Securities (copying BSEC), the bank remained silent.

However, BSEC took action. In March 2026, they formed a two-member inquiry committee — Deputy Director Md. Rafiqunnabi and Assistant Director Muhammad Sadequr Rahman Bhuiyan — to investigate data falsification, negative equity issues, and accounts operated without proper consent. A report is due within 60 days.

The Fake Propaganda Machine
The fake and artificial propaganda machine will not succeed. It will not allow criminals to return to the NRBC Bank board again — it will only waste money.

By ignoring innocent founding sponsors and closing communication lines, some believe they can move on. But I am not someone who gives up easily.
I never surrendered against racism in 1978, in 1980, or in 1993 — and I will not surrender now in the fight for transparency and justice at NRBC Bank.

Evidence of Wrongdoing
Already the external auditor’s report and ACC investigation have identified many sponsors and management team members who carried out irregularities, fraud, corruption, and money laundering — matters that have already been reported to the National Crime Agency (NCA) UK.

Media Suppression and My Response
After placing Dr. Toufique Rahman Chowdhury’s university advertisement in the Dawn, the editor stopped publishing my article and later deleted all my free voluntary contributions from two years on the Dawn.

To Dr. Toufique Rahman Chowdhury:
you or anyone cannot keep blocking me and stopping me with my article. Now two doors are open for me to make regular contributions — Bojorktho and Asian Barta.

I have been faster than you and your associates. I have kept screenshots of my articles and texts — evidence that will speak for itself, insha’Allah.

What I Demand
I call upon the following authorities to act:
Authority Demand
Bangladesh Bank Full forensic audit; money laundering investigation; whistleblower protection
BSEC Expedite inquiry; summon named individuals; produce report within 60 days
ACC Investigate loan scams, corruption;
freeze suspect accounts
NCA UK Investigate cross-border money laundering
Prime Minister’s Office Supervisory oversight; ensure regulatory bodies act independently
Advisor Humayan Kabir Inter-ministerial coordination; protection for whistleblowers

My Commitment
True reform demands open dialogue, protection of whistleblowers, and respect for honest stakeholders.
I will continue this fight — peacefully and relentlessly — until justice prevails.
I have dedicated my life to fighting racism, injustice, and corruption.
I have not surrendered to intimidation in 1978, 1980, 1993, 2013, or at any point since. I will not surrender now.
Justice is not a destination.
It is a struggle — and I was born a fighter.

Sunahwar Ali
Founder Sponsor, NRB Commercial Bank
Former Chief Whip, Tower Hamlets Council
Anti-racist, anti-injustice, equality and anti-corruption campaigner
London – Sylhet – Dhaka