An Australian-Bangladeshi man charged with attempting to bribe police has denied any involvement in the suspected murder of his estranged wife in Bangladesh.
Awlad Hossain, 51, is accused of transferring about $90,000 to associates in Bangladesh and directing them to use the money to bribe local police involved in the investigation into Rehana Parvin’s death.
Ms Parvin, a dual national, was found dead by Bangladeshi police in September 2024. Around the same time, a missing-person report was lodged with Queensland Police concerning an Australian overseas.
Hossain’s lawyer, Torik Dib, told reporters outside Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday that his client denied any involvement in his wife’s death and had been “shocked and concerned” by his arrest.
Mr Dib said Australian authorities had not contacted Hossain’s legal team about Ms Parvin’s death or disappearance, although proceedings were taking place overseas.
Brisbane man remains in custody
Hossain, whose occupation was listed as a metalworker, lived in Redbank Plains, south-west of Brisbane. Police seized electronic devices during a raid on his home on Monday and also searched the nearby Goodna home of his current girlfriend, where he was arrested and charged.
At the court hearing, Mr Dib sought an adjournment of Hossain’s bail application while he obtained further information about a man described as his client’s roommate. He said the roommate was not a co-accused and that he was also seeking information from Hossain’s employer.
The prosecution is opposing bail. The application is due to be heard in October, and Hossain will remain in custody in the meantime.
Mr Dib said the charge would be contested and declined to comment on whether Hossain was alleged to have been conspiring with others.
Australian Federal Police Commander Stephen Jay said the alleged attempts to influence the Bangladeshi investigation had not succeeded.
“These communications [from Hossain to Bangladeshi associates] allegedly indicated the funds were intended to be used to influence the Bangladeshi police investigation into the woman’s death,” he said.
“I’d like to emphasise – the material we have obtained indicates the alleged attempts to influence the criminal investigation in Bangladesh were not successful.”
