{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = P K Halder | native_name = পি কে হালদার | native_name_lang = bn | image = File:Prashanta Kumar Halder in 2015.jpg | alt = | caption = Halder in 2015 | birth_name = Prashanta Kumar Halder | birth_date = <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living people supply only the year with {{Birth year and age|YYYY}} unless the exact date is already widely published, as per WP:DOB. For people who have died, use {{Birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}}. --> | birth_place = Patuakhali, Bangladesh | other_names = | occupation = Banker | years_active = 1999-2019 | known_for = | notable_works = }} '''Prashanta Kumar Halder''', also known as '''PK Halder''', is a Bangladeshi-Canadian banker, businessman and finance officer. He is alleged to have embezzled more than 102 billion taka (US$854 million approximately as of 2024), one of the biggest fraud cases in Bangladesh.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Khan |first=Mahbubur Rahman |date=2020-09-27 |title=Swindle by PK Halder: So far, it is Tk 10,200cr |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/swindle-pk-halder-so-far-it-tk-10200cr-1968125 |access-date=2021-12-31 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> ''The Daily Star'' called him the "Sultan of Swindle".<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Khan |first=Mahbubur Rahman |date=2020-08-23 |title=Sultan of swindle |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/sultan-swindle-1949341 |access-date=2021-12-31 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>
== Early life == Prashanta Kuman Halder was born in a small village in Nazirpur Upazilla of the Pirojpur District to a Hindu family. His father's name is Prananendu Halder and mother's name is Lilavati Halder who was a teacher at a local governmental institute. He is the second son in the family. His elder brother's name is Pritish Kumar Halder. They both graduated from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. Later he got both his MBA & CFA from the University of Dhaka.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-15 |title=PK Halder: How a scamster rose from humble beginnings to a Tk11,000cr empire |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/crime/pk-halder-how-scamster-rose-humble-beginnings-tk11000cr-empire-420418 |access-date=2026-05-17 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}}</ref>
== Career == [[File:Banks Donate Winter Clothes To Prime Ministers Relief Fund 2016-12-05.jpg|thumb|Prashanta Kumar Halder (rightmost) at a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2016.]] In 2008, Halder was made the Deputy Managing Director of Industrial and Infrastructure Development Finance Company Limited.<ref name=":0" />
Halder became the managing director of Reliance Finance Limited in 2009.<ref name=":0" />
In July 2015, Halder was appointed the managing director of NRB Global Bank (later rebranded Global Islami Bank) which was owned by S. Alam.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=NRB Global Bank turns Global Islami Bank |url=https://www.newagebd.net/article/125861/nrb-global-bank-turns-global-islami-bank |access-date=2021-12-31 |work=New Age |date=31 December 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
Halder owned HAL international, whose director, Swapan Kumar Mistri, was a director of International Leasing and Financial Services Limited.<ref name=":0" /> Mistri's wife was the chairperson of Mutual Trust Bank Limited Marine.<ref name=":0" /> Uttam Kumar Mistri, Swapan's brother, and his wife, Atoshi Mridha, embezzled nearly 800 million taka from International Leasing and Financial Services Limited through a fake company called Kolasin<ref name=":0" /> From 2015 to 2019, Amitav Adhikari, Halder's cousin, was a director of People's Leasing And Financial Services Limited, and Uzzal Kumar Nandi, his former colleague, was the chairperson of People's Leasing And Financial Services Limited.<ref name=":0" /> They helped Halder embezzle millions from People's Leasing And Financial Services Limited.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Halder than became chairman of People's Leasing And Financial Services Limited.<ref name=":0" />
Investigations started against Halder in 2019 after a number of raids on illegal casinos in Dhaka.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2021-03-02 |title=PK Halder beat them by an hour |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/news/pk-halder-beat-them-hour-2053273 |access-date=2021-12-31 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>
According to Bangladesh Bank in 2020, Halder had stolen 15 billion taka from International Leasing and Financial Services Limited, 22 billion from FAS Finance & Investment Limited, 30 billion from People's Leasing And Financial Services Limited, and 25 billion taka from Reliance Finance Limited.<ref name=":0" /> He was being investigated by Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit and the Anti Corruption Commission.<ref name=":0" />
In March 2020, Halder fled to India from Bangladesh through Benapole one hour before a travel ban was issued against him.<ref name=":2" /> From there he fled to Canada of which he is a citizen.<ref name=":2"/> He owns P&L Hal Holding Incorporated in Canada, which was founded on 3 July 2014.<ref name=":2"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=P & L HAL HOLDING INC. {{!}} Canada Corporation Directory |url=https://www.canadacompanyregistry.com/companies/p-l-hal-holding-inc/ |access-date=2021-12-31 |website=www.canadacompanyregistry.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=P & L HAL HOLDING INC. · 16 Deanecrest Road, Toronto, ON M9B 5W4 |url=https://opengovca.com/corporation/8942919 |access-date=2021-12-31 |website=opengovca.com}}</ref>
In December 2020, Halder's properties in Dhaka were seized by the Anti Corruption Commission.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-01-11 |title=PK Halder's Tk 3,500cr Scam: ACC summons four high-ups of People's Leasing |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/city/news/pk-halders-tk-3500cr-scam-acc-summons-four-high-ups-peoples-leasing-2025737 |access-date=2021-12-31 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> He also owned Aziz Fibre Jute Control, Northern Jute Manufacturing Company Limited, Rahman Chemicals, and Simtex Industries.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |title='PK Halder found involved in more business scams' |url=https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/PK-Halder-found-involved-in-more-business-scams |access-date=2021-12-31 |work=Prothom Alo |date=14 January 2020 |language=en}}</ref> His cousin, Amitabh Adhikari, left his admin cadre job at Bangladesh Civil Service and joined two of the companies.<ref name=":3" />
In January 2021, his associate NI Khan was ordered by a court to not leave Bangladesh which was later revoked on appeal.<ref>{{Cite news |title=AD stays HC ban on NI Khan's foreign travel |url=https://www.newagebd.net/article/128146/ad-stays-hc-ban-on-ni-khans-foreign-travel |access-date=2021-12-31 |work=New Age |date=24 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Anti Corruption Commission called 14 associates of Halder to their office for investigation in the laundering by Halder in February 2021.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-02-04 |title=ACC summons 14 aides of PK Halder in connection with money laundering |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/crime/news/acc-summons-14-aides-pk-halder-connection-money-laundering-2039269 |access-date=2021-12-31 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> On 5 April 2021, Halder was sued by Abdul Alim, majority owner of Clewiston Foods and Accommodation which had agreements with Radisson Blue to establish a hotel in Cox's Bazar.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=2021-04-05 |title=PK Halder among five sued in Ctg |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/news/pk-halder-among-five-sued-ctg-2072109 |access-date=2021-12-31 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> According to Alim Halder demanded majority share of his company in 2014 in return for approving his loan.<ref name=":4" /> Halder's associate, Pritish Kumar Sarker, and managing director of FAS Finance & Investment Limited was prevented from leaving Bangladesh by Bangladesh Bank.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Uddin |first=AKM Zamir |date=2021-06-07 |title=BB stops FAS Finance MD's US trip |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/bb-stops-fas-finance-mds-us-trip-2106409 |access-date=2021-12-31 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> Halder refused to return to Bangladesh despite a court order.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-10-27 |title=ACC to seek contempt order against PK Halder |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/news/acc-seek-contempt-order-against-pk-halder-1984737 |access-date=2021-12-31 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>
In November 2021, Anti Corruption Commission filled charges against Halder and his associates including his brother Pritish Kumar Halder.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-11-10 |title=ACC approves chargesheet against PK Halder |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/corruption/acc-approves-chargesheet-against-pk-halder-327685 |access-date=2021-12-31 |work=The Business Standard |language=en}}</ref>
== Arrest == In May 2022, PK Halder arrested by Indian official from Ashoknagar, North 24 Parganas district, India.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sensational money launderer P K Halder arrested in India |url=https://www.rtvonline.com/english/bangladesh/8427/Sensational-money-launderer-P-K-Halder-arrested-in-India |access-date=2022-05-15 |publisher=RTV |date=14 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="dt">{{Cite news |date=2022-05-14 |title=Fugitive businessman PK Halder arrested in India |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2022/05/14/pk-halder-held-in-india |access-date=2022-05-15 |work=Dhaka Tribune |language=en}}</ref> "Besides Bangladeshi and Indian passports, PK Halder was also found in possession of a Grenadian passport. It has also been learnt that the Interpol has issued Red corner notice (RCN) against Proshanta Kumar Halder," the Directorate of Enforcement reports.<ref>{{cite news |title=Interrogation reveals PK Halder had passports of Bangladesh, India and Grenada |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/interrogation-india-reveals-pk-halder-had-passports-bangladesh-india-and-grenada-3024101 |access-date=17 May 2022 |work=The Daily Star |date=15 May 2022}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
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Category:Living people Category:Bangladeshi diaspora in Canada Category:Bangladeshi bankers Category:Corruption in Bangladesh Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Bangladeshi people convicted of money laundering Category:Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology alumni Category:University of Dhaka alumni Category:People from Patuakhali District Category:Businesspeople from Barisal Division Category:People from Nazirpur Upazila