TDS Desk:

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Thursday, filed a case against former Narayanganj-4 MP Shamim Osman, his wife Salma Osman, and Tanvir Ahmed for allegedly laundering approximately Tk200 crore.

Jalal Uddin Ahmed, Director of the ACC’s Khulna Divisional Office, lodged the case at the ACC’s integrated district office in Dhaka.

At a briefing later that afternoon, ACC Deputy Director and Public Relations Officer Md Akhtarul Islam disclosed the information, saying: “The funds were laundered abroad through K Telecommunications Limited.”

Akhtarul Islam said: “During the investigation, records and data obtained from the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) revealed that K Telecommunications Limited is a licensed International Gateway (IGW) operator authorized to handle international incoming calls and export telecom services.”

He added: “Salma Osman serves as the chairperson, and Tanvir Ahmed is the managing director of the company.”

According to the case statement, during the ACC investigation, it was found that K Telecommunications Limited, as an International Gateway (IGW) operator, was required to bring foreign earnings from international incoming calls or telecom service exports into Bangladesh.

From September 2012 to October 2023, the IGW operator exported 9.15 billion minutes of telecom services worth $27.45 million. As per the law, this foreign income was mandated to be repatriated to Bangladesh as remittance.

However, a review of the relevant account details of the IGW operator at the Narayanganj branch of IFIC Bank revealed that instead of the full $27.45 million, only $2.27 million was repatriated. The remaining $25.18 million, equivalent to Tk193.91 crore, was not brought into the country.

Similar findings were confirmed by BTRC. During this period, Salma Osman served as the chairperson and Tanvir Ahmed as the managing director of the IGW operator.

The ACC official further said: “With the assistance of former Narayanganj-4 MP Shamim Osman, Salma Osman as the chairperson and Tanvir Ahmed as the managing director of the IGW operator, facilitated the laundering of $25.18 million, equivalent to Tk 193.91 crore, in violation of the country’s existing Anti-Money Laundering Act, despite the financial interests of Bangladesh as a state.”

“This act constitutes an offence under the relevant sections of the Anti-Money Laundering Prevention Act,” he added.