Husband of Rehana Parvin charged with bribing Bangladeshi officials as wife's suspected murder investigated

A Queensland man has been charged with bribing a foreign public official in relation to the suspected murder of his estranged wife, Rehana Parvin, in Bangladesh.

Awlad Hossain, 51, is accused of sending more than $90,000 to people in Bangladesh to influence an investigation into Ms Parvin's death. He has been charged with bribing a foreign public official, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment.

Ms Parvin, an Australian citizen and mother of five, disappeared two months before her body was found in a small village in Bangladesh in September 2024. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is investigating her suspected murder.

Bangladeshi police have issued an arrest warrant for Mr Hossain over her death, but he has not been charged in relation to it, in either Bangladesh or Australia. Mr Hossain is in custody in Brisbane and expected to apply for bail.

Investigation into alleged bribes

AFP Commander Stephen Jay said police will allege Mr Hossain transferred more than $90,000 in multiple payments to people he knew in Bangladesh over two years in a bid to influence the Bangladeshi probe.

"We have not seen any change in the level of the support provided to us by Bangladeshi police," he said. "We remain really comfortable with the excellent cooperation we've had from Bangladesh authorities."

Commander Jay said the charges were "materially relevant" to the investigation into Ms Parvin's death, which he said continues "at speed". The evidence of alleged bribes was uncovered as part of that existing investigation.

"At the centre of this matter is the tragic death of a woman and our thoughts remain with her family and friends as they continue to seek answers," Commander Jay said.

First foreign bribery case

AFP officers arrested Mr Hossain on Tuesday and searched homes in Goodna and Redbank Plains, where they seized an electronic device. Investigators also searched financial institutions in Sydney and Brisbane, seizing international funds transfer and bank records.

"If the AFP identifies evidence of attempts to bribe foreign government officials for personal gain you'll be investigated, you could be prosecuted and if convicted face a significant amount of time in incarceration," Commander Jay said.

Asked if the AFP could charge someone with murder under strengthened Commonwealth powers, Commander Jay said the charge would be harming an Australian overseas.

"The Bangladesh investigation is ongoing," he said.