Fraud, Forgery, and Threats: Foodpanda MD Among Six Sued

Four separate lawsuits have been filed against Syeda Ambareen Reza, Managing Director of Foodpanda Bangladesh Ltd., and five other senior officials of the company, on charges of fraud, forgery, breach of contract, and issuing death threats.

The cases were filed at the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sanaullah. The accused include Syeda Ambareen Reza, Co-founder and Managing Director of Foodpanda Bangladesh Ltd.; Zubayer Siddiqui, Co-founder and Director; Md. Tabarez Khan (an Indian national), Director of Delivery (Hero Store); Dilara Faruq, Head of Category; Md. Sajedul Haque, Senior Manager and Director of Delivery (Hero Store); and Md. Toufiq, Executive Category Management Director at Delivery Hero Store Bangladesh Ltd. (Pandamart).

The complaints were lodged by Shihab Mahmud, proprietor of First Tele Sales Company. His legal counsel, Kazi Mofizul Islam, confirmed the matter and stated that the court has recorded the plaintiff’s statement.

According to the case documents, Shihab Mahmud had business dealings with Foodpanda’s affiliated entity Pandamart under separate agreements. However, violating the terms of these contracts, Pandamart and Foodpanda officials allegedly engaged in fraudulent activities that resulted in financial losses amounting to BDT 56 million.

The complaints allege that the accused, in collusion, persuaded PNP (the supplier) to deliver foreign products. Although the goods were supplied, Foodpanda allegedly withheld BDT 58 million in payments. Shihab Mahmud further claims that Foodpanda officials manipulated records, labeling accepted products as damaged, and fabricated return invoices—despite the goods being quality-checked at the time of delivery.

He also alleged that nominal payments of one or two taka—or less than one hundred taka—were made intentionally to delay clearing dues. “The company has previously been scrutinized by the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for VAT and tax evasion, which has also been reported in the media,” he added.

Shihab stated that despite sending multiple notices, the company failed to clear outstanding payments and instead recently issued death threats against him. Distressed by the threats, he lodged a General Diary (GD) with Gulshan Police Station. Furthermore, due to sudden cancellation of purchase orders, stockpiled products in his warehouse expired, incurring an additional loss of nearly BDT 3 million.

Shihab Mahmud alleged, “Foodpanda and Pandamart, acting as accomplices of the fascist Awami League, are looting people’s hard-earned money through fraud. I am not alone—many others have fallen victim to such deception. I have complete faith in the legal system and have turned to the court seeking justice.”

In response to the allegations, Foodpanda has denied all charges, calling them “false and baseless.” The company claimed the lawsuits were filed to tarnish its and its employees’ reputation. Foodpanda further stated that it is considering legal action against what it described as a “deliberate smear campaign.”