Four people have been detained by the Detective Branch (DB) of police in a case filed over alleged embezzlement of Tk3.5 crore from a businessman by impersonating the voice of Raqibul Islam Bakul, a whip of the Jatiya Sangsad and BNP’s central student affairs secretary in Khulna.
Police said the prime accused, Ejaz Ahmed Raza, has given a confessional statement under Section 164 before a local court.
Law enforcers also recovered Tk12 lakh from those detained.
GM Azizur Rahman, a businessman of West Tutpara in Khulna city, filed the case under the Cyber Security Act with Khulna Sadar Police Station on 18 September. The case was later transferred to the DB.
The case names Ejaz, 46, of Deben Babu Road, and Sheikh Mahabubur Rahman Mamun, 49, of the same area, along with five to six unidentified persons as accused.
Azizur said his elder brother, GM Mofizur Rahman Tiku, currently lives in the United States. Arif, a former president of Khulna city unit of Chhatra Dal, informed his brother that Whip Bakul wanted to speak with him. A phone number, said to belong to Bakul, was then provided. After contacting the number via WhatsApp, they joined a group call.
According to the case, during the group call at 2:38am on 29 July, discussions were held regarding the purchase and sale of old machinery from Platinum Jute Mill. During the conversation, the person claiming to be Bakul said payment would be made the following morning and that a representative would meet him.
Following that discussion, between 3:15pm and 4:30pm the same day, Mamun allegedly sent Ejaz and another individual, instead of appearing in person, to the office of Alfi Trade International at 25 Sir Iqbal Road under Khulna Sadar Police Station. There, the businessman handed over Tk2 crore in cash to Ejaz as payment for the purchase of old machinery.
Later, he again spoke with the person claiming to be Bakul through the same WhatsApp number. Discussions then took place about acquiring a hardboard mill. Subsequently, he contacted Advocate Mohammad Ali Babu and visited Platinum Jute Mill with him.
