‘Business Hit by False Complaints’: Noman Group Seeks BB's Intervention

The complaint, signed by Mohammad Nurul Islam, director of Jaber & Zubair Fabrics Ltd, claims that Noman Group has been engaged in export business with 903 international buyers since 2000. According to the complaint, the group has an annual turnover of around $1.3 billion and employs approximately 80,000 workers, officers and employees

Noman Group, one of Bangladesh’s major export-oriented business conglomerates, has alleged that an organised group has been filing false, fabricated and baseless complaints with government agencies, banks, financial institutions and international buyers in an attempt to damage the group’s reputation and disrupt its business and export operations.

Seeking an investigation and legal action against those allegedly involved, the group’s affiliate Jaber & Zubair Fabrics Ltd has submitted a written complaint to the Governor of Bangladesh Bank.

The complaint, signed by Mohammad Nurul Islam, director of Jaber & Zubair Fabrics Ltd, claims that Noman Group has been engaged in export business with 903 international buyers since 2000. According to the complaint, the group has an annual turnover of around $1.3 billion and employs approximately 80,000 workers, officers and employees.

The company also claims that Jaber & Zubair Fabrics Ltd has received the National Export Trophy (Gold) 12 consecutive times from the Ministry of Commerce. It further says the company and Noman Terry Towel Mills Ltd have received the President’s Industrial Development Award multiple times in recognition of their contribution to employment, industrialisation and foreign-exchange earnings.

Dispute over Tk 9.3 million

The complaint traces the alleged dispute to 2018, when Harun-or-Rashid, also known as “Bodybuilder Harun”, allegedly approached Noman Group’s chairman seeking an opportunity to do business.

According to the complaint, Harun’s brother Anwar Hossain was subsequently given an opportunity to engage in jhut (garment waste) trading and C&F-related activities.

The complaint alleges that Harun received Tk 9.3 million in cash and cheques at different times as loans from the personal account of Noman Group’s chairman because he lacked sufficient capital for the business.

The group claims that after allegations of irregularities and fraud relating to waste deliveries emerged, and after information about criminal cases involving Harun and Anwar came to its attention, all business transactions with them were discontinued after November 28, 2020.

The group alleges that Harun and his associates subsequently began a campaign of harassment and blackmail.

Alleged threats and criminal case

According to the complaint, in January 2021 Harun visited an office of Noman Group and allegedly delivered legal notices, newspaper clippings and copies of petitions and warned that complaints would be filed with government agencies unless the group stopped demanding repayment of the Tk 9.3 million.

The complaint further alleges that Harun later threatened to cause serious harm to the group’s business and to abduct, kill or disappear its chairman, directors and officials.

Noman Group says a general diary was filed with Motijheel Police Station on January 24, 2021, seeking security for the chairman and others.

The following day, the group filed a criminal case alleging that Harun demanded Tk 20 million and issued further threats.

According to documents cited in the complaint, police submitted a charge sheet on June 21, 2021. The complaint says Harun was subsequently sentenced on December 30, 2021, to four years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 10,000, with an additional three months’ imprisonment in default.

Multiple writ petitions

Noman Group alleges that after the business relationship ended and criminal proceedings were initiated, Harun and his associates began filing complaints and cases against the group.

The complaint refers to two writ petitions filed before the High Court in 2022—Writ Petition Nos. 10,716/2022 and 10,717/2022.

Noman Group claims that Jaber & Zubair Fabrics Ltd subsequently became a party to the proceedings and filed legal responses. In one of the cases, the matter was taken before the Supreme Court following proceedings in the Chamber Court, according to the complaint.

The group says another writ petition was filed in 2025 and that further litigation followed in 2026.

As several of the proceedings remain pending, the allegations and counter-allegations have yet to receive final judicial determination.

Allegations before government agencies

The company further alleges that, despite the ongoing court proceedings, repeated complaints have been submitted to various government agencies, accompanied by media reports that the group claims are intended to damage its reputation.

The complaint also refers to a case filed under Section 107 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before a Gazipur Executive Magistrate’s Court.

According to Noman Group, the case—No. 995/2026—was brought by Kajal Sarker. The group says that at a hearing on August 31, 2026, the complainant sought withdrawal of the case, while officials of Noman Group submitted written responses.

The company claims that the court subsequently discharged the concerned officials and disposed of the case.

However, the precise findings and legal implications of the court order would need to be assessed from the certified court record.

Complaints to international buyers

One of the most significant allegations in Noman Group’s complaint concerns its international buyers. The company alleges that members of the group it accuses visited the Bangladesh offices of several major international buyers—including Walmart, IKEA, H&M, K-Mart, Target and Lidl—and submitted complaints containing what Noman Group describes as false and fabricated information.

The company further alleges that emails were sent to some buyers urging them not to place orders with Noman Group.

According to the complaint, some purchase orders were subsequently cancelled or suspended, while the company fears that additional orders worth hundreds of crores of taka could be cancelled. Noman Group claims that the alleged campaign has already caused business losses of more than Tk 10,000 crore. The complaint, however, does not provide an independently verified assessment of the claimed financial losses.

Legal action over media reports

The complaint also raises objections to reports published by several Bangladeshi newspapers. Noman Group says it has filed defamation and financial claims against the editors and reporters of Dainik Sokaler Shomoy and Dainik Inqilab over reports it considers false, defamatory and baseless.

According to the complaint, charges were framed in one case involving the editor and reporter of Dainik Sokaler Shomoy. The company further claims that the editor subsequently expressed regret in writing and that the reporter concerned was dismissed.

Noman Group also says it has filed separate cases against the editor and reporter of Dainik Inqilab. The final status and outcome of these cases could not be independently established from the information provided in the complaint.

Kajal Sarker denies commenting on allegations

When contacted regarding the allegations, Kajal Sarker told this correspondent, “This is a matter for the court. I have nothing to say and nothing to do. But your media should try to bring out the truth.”

No detailed response to the specific allegations was provided. The other individuals named in the complaint could not be reached for comment for this report.

Noman Group seeks BB's investigation

In its complaint to Bangladesh Bank, Noman Group has requested an investigation into the allegations and appropriate legal action against those found responsible. It has also urged the central bank to investigate allegations that false or misleading information was supplied to banks, financial institutions, government agencies and international buyers with the intention of disrupting the group’s business.

The complaint reportedly includes copies of court documents, general diaries, legal notices, writ petitions, newspaper clippings, government applications, a court order relating to Harun’s conviction, emails sent to international buyers and certified documents concerning the Section 107 case.

Noman Group says the alleged campaign has damaged its reputation at home and abroad and adversely affected its relationship with international buyers and financial institutions.

The company has urged the authorities to conduct an impartial investigation, establish the facts and take action in accordance with the law.