The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has detected suspicious financial transactions worth more than Tk127 crore in several bank accounts linked to the main accused, Faisal Karim Masud, and his associates in the murder of Inqilab Moncho spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi.
According to a press release issued on Sunday, the CID has initiated a money laundering investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2012, based on information received from various law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Following the fatal shooting of Osman Hadi in Purana Paltan, Dhaka, on 12 December, the CID launched a shadow investigation covering multiple aspects of the case, including crime scene management, collection and analysis of CCTV footage, recovery of bullet casings, and forensic examination of evidence.
As the probe progressed, investigators expanded the scope to examine financial transactions after obtaining bank account details from multiple sources.
Although the prime accused Faisal Karim Masud, also known as Daud Khan and Rahul, has not yet been arrested, several of his family members and associates have been detained on charges of concealing evidence and assisting his escape.
During arrest operations, investigators seized several cheque books linked to the accused and related individuals and organisations. Preliminary scrutiny of the records indicates financial transactions amounting to around Tk218 crore, though the figures are yet to be finalised.
Initial analysis has identified unusual transactions exceeding Tk127 crore across multiple accounts, which investigators suspect may be linked to money laundering, organised crime, and the financing of terrorist activities.
In response, the CID has filed a separate money laundering case and is taking steps to confiscate about Tk65 lakh from various bank accounts belonging to the accused and his associated individuals and entities in favour of the state.
Meanwhile, multiple CID teams are working to trace the original sources of the funds and to determine whether an organised and influential network was involved in planning, financing, and supplying weapons for the murder.
