Former Law Minister Anisul Huq and his personal assistant Md Rashedul Kawser Bhuiya Jibon have been shown arrested in a case accusing them of money laundering and illegally collecting nearly Tk25 crore.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Ehsanul Islam on Monday granted the arrest request filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Two other individuals, Toufika Karim and Md Kamruzzaman, are also named as accused in the case.
CID’s investigation revealed that the accused, acting in collusion, formed a criminal network that systematically collected large sums of money through extortion over several years.
The Financial Crime Unit of the CID found that the network regularly collected Tk10 lakh per month from individuals and organisations via the Gulshan branch of the National Bank of Pakistan.
Further investigation showed that Md Kamruzzaman, who joined the bank as managing director in 2015, transferred funds to Toufika Karim’s personal bank account linked to her law firm, Sirajul Haque Associates, under the guise of legal advisory services.
Until 5 August, 2024, when he went into hiding, the network had collected Tk10.80 crore through the bank. Additionally, nearly Tk10.60 crore was collected from other sources through Toufika Karim’s account.
The CID also found that Anisul Haque, after becoming minister, appointed Toufika Karim and Rashedul Kawser as personal assistants and set up an NGO, Legal Assistance to Helpless Prisoners and Persons.
Through the NGO’s Sonali Bank Supreme Court branch account, the group reportedly collected large sums of money from various individuals and organisations.
From 11 March, 2015 to 30 June 2024, the total extorted amount via the NGO reached Tk24.53 crore.
The CID stated that preliminary evidence and witness statements have already been gathered, and the arrest of the accused is necessary to ensure a proper and fair investigation. The case remains under active investigation.
