Prashanta Kumar Halder

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. The Daily Star called him the "Sultan of Swindle".

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.

Career 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.

Halder owned HAL international, whose director, Swapan Kumar Mistri, was a director of International Leasing and Financial Services Limited.

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.

In December 2020, Halder's properties in Dhaka were seized by the Anti Corruption Commission. He also owned Aziz Fibre Jute Control, Northern Jute Manufacturing Company Limited, Rahman Chemicals, and Simtex Industries. His cousin, Amitabh Adhikari, left his admin cadre job at Bangladesh Civil Service and joined two of the companies. Anti Corruption Commission called 14 associates of Halder to their office for investigation in the laundering by Halder in February 2021. 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. According to Alim Halder demanded majority share of his company in 2014 in return for approving his loan. Halder refused to return to Bangladesh despite a court order.

In November 2021, Anti Corruption Commission filled charges against Halder and his associates including his brother Pritish Kumar Halder.

Arrest In May 2022, PK Halder arrested by Indian official from Ashoknagar, North 24 Parganas district, India. "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.