A Queensland man accused of bribing Bangladeshi officials to erase his name from his wife’s suspected murder probe was intercepted at the airport after learning he was wanted overseas.
Redbank Plains man Awlad Hossain, 51, applied for bail on Friday before Brisbane Magistrates Court on one charge of bribing a foreign public official.
Australian Federal Police allege Mr Hossain sought to manipulate a Bangladeshi investigation into the death of his wife Rehana Parvin, a Queensland woman found buried in a remote village of Bangladesh in 2024.
They alleged the 51-year-old prepared more than $90,000 to be sent to people in Bangladesh with the purpose of influencing public officials handling Ms Parvin’s suspected murder case, including having his name removed from police records.
Police allegedly recorded Mr Hossain saying he “was prepared to give anything if they would withdraw the case”.
Mr Hossain has been in custody on remand since September 21, 2026 and has indicated he will fight the charge.
In court on Friday, prosecutors argued Mr Hossain was too severe a risk of fleeing his court responsibilities and interfering with witnesses if released on bail.
The court was told, years before his arrest on the bribery charge, Mr Hossain learnt he was wanted in Bangladesh in relation to Ms Parvin’s alleged murder.
While wanted by Bangladeshi authorities, Mr Hossain has not been charged with murder in Bangladesh or under Australian law and an AFP investigation into Ms Parvin’s death continues.
As Bangladesh maintains the death penalty, Australian courts do not extradite to the country.
Shortly after being named a subject of the separate Bangladeshi murder investigation, Mr Hossain allegedly purchased airline tickets to the US.
He was also recorded asking a friend if it was possible to travel outside of Australia without a passport.
Police intercepted Mr Hossain at an airport where he intended to board a flight.
The court was told he was originally charged with passport offences; however, the charges were later dropped.
Solicitor Torik Dib argued Mr Hossain had no desire to leave Australia for Bangladesh and had remained in Queensland while the AFP continued its investigation into his wife’s death.
“He can’t go back to Bangladesh,” Mr Dib said.
“Those messages are concerning, they are adverse … but it would be more concerning if there wasn’t a substantial passage of time whereby he has not taken any steps to obtain a passport unlawfully and leave the country.”
Mr Dib said Mr Hossain’s continued detention on remand was unjust, claiming there were glaring gaps in the Crown case and noting Mr Hossain would have to wait a long time before facing trial.
“We contest the charge which will require substantial preparation … and inevitably cause a substantial delay,” Mr Dib said.
He stated Mr Hossain had “longstanding” connections in Queensland and was the only family support for his 18-year-old nephew, who leaned on him as a guiding figure.
Mr Hossain was also on bail for separate fraud charges at the time he allegedly attempted to bribe Bangladeshi authorities.
He was accused of fraudulently obtaining a death certificate from a Bangladesh official for Ms Parvin in order to transfer jointly held properties into his name.
Mr Dib said they would be fighting the charges, expected to be heard in the District Court at a later date.
Speaking further on the alleged bribery, the prosecution claimed after Mr Hossain’s bank withdrew his ability to transfer money overseas, he asked another man to send money on his behalf.
The AFP alleged Mr Hossain conspired with people in Bangladesh to channel the money, intended as a bribe to police, for some time between September 2024 and September 2026.
They claimed to have traced the alleged payments with bank records and international transaction receipts from financial institutions in Brisbane and Sydney.
Police claimed the payments were made to people known to Mr Hossain, with the intention they pass on the money; however, the AFP believed no actual payments were received by Bangladeshi police officials themselves.
The allegation against Mr Hossain were uncovered by the AFP while investigating Ms Parvin’s death, rather than a tip-off by Bangladeshi police.
Mr Hossain was refused bail, magistrate Tim Hoshin stating there was no way to mitigate the risk of him reoffending or failing to appear in court.
Outside court, Mr Dib said they would be contesting the decision in the Supreme Court.
Cross-border investigation into the death of Ms Parvin, a dual Australian-Bangladeshi citizen, began after she returned to the country for a family visit in June 2024 and then vanished.
Her family told media the Queensland woman stayed with her parents for a night before travelling to her in-laws’ home.
Days later she was reported missing when family were unable to get in contact.
Her body was discovered buried near a septic tank in a village northwest of Dhaka in September 2024.
Bangladeshi authorities later confirmed her identity through forensic testing.
Two people, including Mr Hossain’s sister, have been charged in Bangladesh in relation to her disappearance.
Ms Parvin was described by her family as a bright and generous woman who had built a life in Australia after moving here nearly two decades ago.
Mr Hossain is the first person to face a charge of foreign bribery of a public official for personal gain in an Australian court.
The AFP investigation into Ms Parvin’s death continues.