A money laundering case is under investigation by the CID’s Financial Crime Unit against Rongdhonu Group owner Rafiqul Islam and his associates on charges of amassing huge wealth through fraud and forgery and laundering money abroad. Amid this, the CID has seized assets worth Tk33 crore, including a luxury hotel owned by the Rongdhonu Group owner.
CID’s Special Police Superintendent (Media) Jasim Uddin Khan informed on Monday that Rafiqul Islam, under the name Rongdhonu Builders, took loans of Tk400 crore from Islami Bank’s Baridhara branch, Tk270 crore from First Security Islami Bank’s Bashundhara branch, Tk200 crore from Union Bank’s Gulshan branch, and additional loans from various other banks through fraud and forgery.
Without repaying the loan amounts, he obtained citizenship abroad and made investments there.
The investigating officer discovered assets worth Tk33.81 crore, including a 9-story building constructed on 6.2 katha of land at Banani Road No 17, along with the Hotel Unique Regency, which was kept as collateral with the Cooperative Bank Bangladesh Ltd.
Subsequently, following a court order, the CID froze said hotel. The investigation continues to fully probe the case, trace the source of the funds, locate assets laundered abroad, and identify and arrest other individuals involved.
