Just 10 organisations and four individuals are alleged to have transferred Tk9 lakh 52 thousand crore abroad

TDS Desk

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has uncovered the involvement of over 100 individuals and organisations in laundering substantial sums of money abroad. Among them, just 10 organisations and four individuals allegedly transferred $80 billion (approximately Tk9 lakh 52 thousand crores) to locations including the USA, UK, Canada, Singapore, and Dubai. Given the scale and urgency, the ACC is preparing to take immediate action against these specific culprits.

The ACC’s “hit list” was compiled in coordination with domestic and international entities. While the list includes some of Bangladesh’s most high-profile figures, it notably excludes members of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s family. Only the country’s top money launderers have been included in this list. The 10 organisations and four individuals on the list alone have laundered $80 billion abroad. Later, the names of two more individuals will be added to the list.

ACC Director General (Prevention) Md. Akhtar Hossain said “Efforts to recover assets laundered abroad are ongoing at the highest level. Delegations from various organisations have discussed this matter with the commission’s officials. We have received assurances of cooperation for recovering assets smuggled out of the country. So far, 71 MLARs (Mutual Legal Assistance Requests) have been sent to 12 countries seeking legal support to recover laundered funds from Bangladesh. Responses have been received for 27 of them.”

The ACC has compiled its “hit list” of individuals and organisations implicated in money laundering, in coordination with institutions like Bangladesh Bank, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Bangladesh Police, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), the National Board of Revenue (NBR), and international agencies such as Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative (StAR).

The list includes- Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, former chairman of United Commercial Bank and former land minister, along with his wife, Rukhmila Zaman. Salman F Rahman, owner of Beximco Group, alongside other proprietors of Beximco Group. Nazrul Islam Mazumdar, owner of Nasa Group and former chairman of EXIM Bank. Ron Haque Sikder and Rick Haque Sikder, directors of Sikder Group and former directors of National Bank, along with their mother, former National Bank chairperson Monowara Sikder, and sister, former National Bank director Parveen Haque Sikder. Mohammad Aziz Khan, chairman of Summit Group, his wife, three daughters, four brothers, and their families. Obaidul Karim, chairman of Orion Group, his wife Arjuda Karim, son Salman Obaidul Karim, Mehdi Hasan, and daughter Zarin Karim. Children of the late Kazi Shahed Ahmed, founder of Gemcon Group: Kazi Anis Ahmed, Kazi Nabil Ahmed, and Kazi Inam Ahmed. Members of the Nabil Group, including its chairman Jahan Box Mondal, managing director Aminul Islam, and their families.

Additionally, four high-profile individuals have been named in the “hit list” are – former Inspector General of Police Benazir Ahmed. Former NBR member Matiur Rahman. Former BFIU head Masud Biswas. Former Padma Bank chairman Chowdhury Nafiz Sarafat, along with their families.

Two more individuals, Abdur Rouf Talukder, former governor of Bangladesh Bank, and Professor Shibli Rubayat-Ul-Islam, former chairman of the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), are set to be added to the list based on further investigations.

In its preliminary investigation, the ACC has found concrete evidence of money laundering abroad involving at least 100 individuals, including former ministers, state ministers, members of parliament, and district council chairmen from the ousted Awami League government. All of these individuals are political figures.

The list includes- Asaduzzaman Khan, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, Tipu Munshi, Anisul Haque, Tajul Islam, Md. Faridul Haque Khan, Golam Dastagir Gazi, Zahid Ahsan Russell, Anwar Hossain, Hasanul Haq Inu, Sham Rezaul Karim, Zahid Maleque, former Minister Dr. Dipu Moni, Mahibul Hasan Chowdhury, Sadhan Chandra Majumder, Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, Kamal Ahmed Majumdar, Shajahan Khan, Kamrul Islam, Kujendra Lal Tripura, Nasrul Hamid, Khalid Mahmud, Junaid Ahmed Palak, Md. Zakir Hossain, Imran Ahmed, Mohammad Hasan Mahmud

These individuals are alleged to have been involved in significant financial crimes, including laundering money abroad.