Police Report Alleges Tk10,000 Crore Extortion to Fund 2018 ‘Night-Time Voting’ Election

An internal police report has alleged that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s adviser, Salman F Rahman, and S Alam, chairman of the S Alam Group, extorted approximately Tk10,000 crore from businessmen to finance Bangladesh’s 2018 national election, widely referred to as the “night-time voting” incident.

According to the report, senior business figures were allegedly pressured to provide large sums of money through coercive means, with the funds purportedly channeled to support election-related expenditures.

The document claims the extortion was systematic, involving multiple sectors of the business community, and coordinated through individuals with political influence during the run-up to the polls.

The 2018 election has long been controversial, with opposition parties and rights groups alleging widespread irregularities, including ballot stuffing and voter intimidation conducted overnight before polling day.

The internal police report reportedly links the alleged fundraising operation to efforts to secure electoral outcomes amid that climate.

Individuals named in the report have not been convicted in connection with these allegations, and no court ruling has yet established the claims as fact. Sources familiar with the matter said the report is part of a broader review of alleged financial misconduct and abuse of power connected to the election period.

Legal experts noted that an internal report does not by itself constitute proof and that any prosecution would require corroborating evidence and judicial scrutiny.

Political reactions have been sharply divided. Critics of the former administration said the allegations reinforce longstanding concerns about corruption and the integrity of the 2018 vote, while allies of those named dismissed the claims as politically motivated and unsubstantiated. Business leaders cited in the report have not publicly commented, and it remains unclear whether formal charges will be brought.

Authorities have indicated that further investigation is ongoing and that additional documents and testimonies are being reviewed. The report has intensified debate over accountability for the 2018 election and renewed calls for an independent inquiry into alleged financial and electoral misconduct in Bangladesh.