money laundering
Joy shares video report on ‘BNP’s money laundering’
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ICT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy has levelled hefty money laundering allegations against BNP leaders, including Tarique Rahman, backed by evidence from top global watchdogs.
Joy shared an “investigative” video report accompanied by a text “A whistleblower on who, how, when, and where laundered money from Bangladesh' from his verified Facebook page which described how the BNP leaders siphoned off a huge amount of money during the party's last tenure (2001- 2006).
Among them, according to the video report, Khaleda Zia's elder son, Tarique Rahman stashed over Tk 20 crore in the account of his friend, Gias Uddin Al Mamun, with Citi Bank in Singapore.
Even an FBI official testified in a money laundering case against Tarique, said the report mentioning that money laundering a disease.
Also read: Joy shares video on BNP-Jamaat's "anti-Bangladesh activities"
Khaleda Zia's younger son Arafat (Koko) illegally transferred a huge amount of money to Singapore during the BNP's tenure between 2001 and 2006, the video report mentioned.
A portion of money siphoned off by him-- more than 3 million Singaporean dollars-- was brought back by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in three phases. His corruption was even detailed on the FBI website, according to the video.
In the Paradise Papers, many BNP leaders were named, including Abdul Awal Mintoo, former adviser to the BNP chairperson, his wife, and three sons, according to the video report that mentioned that wherever there was an investigation into corruption in the world, names of BNP leaders surfaced.
The infamous Panama Papers named 34 Bangladeshis, individuals and organisations, for involvement in money laundering, according to the video report.
Among them are M Morshed Khan, former foreign minister of the BNP-led government, and his son Faisal Morshed Khan, it mentioned.
Also read: A bankrupt group using an innocent phone conversation to serve their agenda: Anisul Haque
The video mentioned that these global watchdogs do not care if somebody is in power or not -- so they would expose Awami League leaders for similar corruption if they could -- but they have not.Recently, Pandora's papers leaked around 12 million secret documents. “Be it Pandora's Papers or Panama Papers, no global corruption watchdog has ever named any top-level leader of Awami League. But, BNP leaders were named everywhere,” according to the video report.
Stop trade based money laundering, Agriculture Minister urges customs officials
Agriculture Minister Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaque on Wednesday urged customs officials to take steps to prevent money laundering from Bangladesh.
He also emphasized enactment of stricter law like that in South Korea for curbing money laundering.
Read:Benapole Customs falls short of its revenue target again
He said that a lot of money was siphoned off South Korea once which was later stopped due to strict rules and harsher punishment system which can be done in Bangladesh to stop money laundering.
The minister came up with remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a function on the occasion of International Customs Day at a hotel in the capital on Wednesday.
Abdur Razzak said, "A huge amount of money is being siphoned off the country every year through over invoicing (importing goods showing higher prices) and under invoicing. Many people including government officials and businessmen are involved in it.”
The customs department has a big role to play in preventing the money laundering, Razzaque said.
"If we want to become an upper-middle-income country, we have to increase our income. The National Board of Revenue can play a big role for this,” he added.
Highlighting the picture of the country's development, the Agriculture Minister said, "Digital Bangladesh is no longer a dream, it is now a reality. We are far ahead of other countries in implementing the SDG goals.”
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury also spoke on the occasion.
FBCCI President Jasim Uddin said, “Bangladesh's goal is to become an upper-middle income country by 2031. For this, the per capita income will have to increase to USD $5,500. There is no alternative to industrialisation to achieve this goal.
“In order to increase our exports, we need to diversify our products. For this, the NBR and the private sector have to work together,” FBCCI president said.
Read: BGMEA urges Ctg Customs House to ease procedures for faster release of imported goods
The NBR not only keeps role in revenue collection, the revenue board is making an important contribution to the protection of local industries in the country, said NBR chairmanAbu Hena Md Rahmantul Munim.
Shehzad Munim, Managing Director of British American Tobacco and Russell T. Ahmed, President of BASIS also spoke on the occasion among others.
The keynote paper was presented in the function by NBR Member (Customs Policy) Masood Sadiq.
At the ceremony, Economic Reporters Forum (ERF), 20 customs officials and organizations were given the Certificate of Merit Award by the World Customs Organization.
Ex-Sylhet DIG (Prison) gets 8 years jail
A Dhaka court on Sunday sentenced Partha Gopal Banik, suspended deputy inspector general (prisons) of Sylhet division, to eight years imprisonment in a case filed on bribery and money laundering charges.
Judge Sheikh Nazmul Alam of Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 pronounced the judgment.The court fined him Tk 50,000, in default, to suffer three months more rigorous imprisonment.
On September 19 last year, the court sent Partha Gopal Banik to jail in the case when he surrendered before the court.
READ: Money laundering: Sylhet DIG(Prison) Partha Gopal lands in jail
On June 17, Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 granted bail to Partha Gopal. Later, the Anti- Corruption Commission submitted a petition seeking cancellation of the bail order which was granted later.
On January 25, 2021, the HC dismissed a review appeal filed by Partha seeking exemption from the graft charges in a case filed after the recovery of Tk 80 lakh from his residence during a drive in 2019.
READ: Sylhet DIG Prisons Partha lands in jail
On July 28, 2019, ACC seized Tk 80 lakh from his house in the city’s Dhanmondi area after interrogating him at the ACC headquarters over corruption.
CID submits information on 8 money laundering cases to HC
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Sunday submitted information on eight money laundering cases to the High Court.
Information on these cases under financial crimes investigation and signed by CID Special Superintendent of Police Md Humayun Kabi has been submitted as per the HC order.
The accused in the eight cases are - expelled leaders of Juba League Ismail Chowdhury Samrat, Enamul Haque Arman, Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan, expelled commissioners Mominul Haque Sayeed, Rajib Hossain Rana, Jamal Bhatara, Shariful Islam, Awlad Hossain, Shajahan Bablu, Nazmul Abedin, Sohela Abedin, AKM Jahid Hossain, A&B Outerwear & Norm Outfit & Accessories Ltd. Chittagong’s CEPZ.
The report also mentioned hacking Bangladesh Bank's vault. Unidentified hackers have been accused in the case as well.
Read: HC wants to know steps taken to prevent money laundering by e-commerce firms
It said that a total of 81 million USD was smuggled to the Philippines and 20 million USD to Sri Lanka. Among them, 14.61 million USD was recovered from the Philippines and 20 million USD from Sri Lanka, the report said. The report contains information on money laundered to 6 countries.
Money laundering: Sylhet DIG(Prison) Partha Gopal lands in jail
A court here on Sunday sent Partha Gopal Banik, the suspended deputy inspector general (prisons) of Sylhet division, to jail in a money laundering case.
Dhaka Special Judge Court-4 passed the order when Partha Gopal surrendered before the court in the case.
On June 17, Dhaka Special Judge Court-5 granted bail to Partha Gopal. Later, the Anti- Corruption Commission submitted a petition seeking cancellation of the bail order which was granted later.
Also read: Sylhet DIG Prisons Partha lands in jail
The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim asked him to surrender before the court within September 20.
On January 25, 2021, the HC dismissed a review appeal filed by Partha seeking exemption from the graft charges in a case filed after the recovery of Tk 80 lakh from his residence during a drive in 2019.
Partha filed the review petition with the HC after his appeal was rejected by a subordinate court on November 4.
On July 28, 2019, ACC seized Tk 80 lakh from his house in the city’s Dhanmondi area after interrogating him at the ACC headquarters over corruption .
HC rejects writ challenging gazette on Papul’s MP post
The High Court on Tuesday rejected a writ petition filed by ex-Laxmipur-2 lawmaker Shahid Islam Papul's sister challenging the gazette notification that declared the MP’s seat vacant.
The bench of Justice Md Mojibur Rahman Mia and Justice Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah passed the order after hearing a writ filed by Papul's sister Nurunnahar Begum, said deputy attorney general Nouroz M Russel Chowdhury.
Read: Order on writ against declaring Papul's parliamentary seat vacant Tuesday
On January 28, a Kuwait court sentenced Papul to four years' jail in a case related to human trafficking, residency visa trading and money laundering. He was also fined around 1.9 million Kuwaiti dinars.
On 6 June last year, Papul was arrested in Kuwait.
On August 16 of the same year, Abul Fayez Bhuiyan, an independent candidate from the Laxmipur-2 constituency, filed a writ petition challenging the legality of Papul's parliament membership as he had been accused of providing fake documents and submitting fake education certificates.
Read: MP Papul’s parliamentary seat declared vacant
On February 22 this year, parliament declared the Lakshmipur-2 constituency vacant following the conviction of Papul on charges of human trafficking and money laundering by a court in Kuwait.
The Parliament Secretariat issued a gazette notification declaring that the Laxmipur-2 constituency (Parliamentary Seat-275) fell vacant on January 28, 2021, the date of the court's sentence.
According to the gazette, Papul is ineligible to remain an MP under Article 66 (2) of the Constitution as he was sentenced by the Kuwaiti criminal court to four-year rigorous imprisonment on January 28.
Read:MP Papul’s conviction: Govt receives verdict copy
His seat has remained vacant since the date of the court's sentence according to Article 67 (1) of the Constitution, said the gazette signed by Senior Secretary of the Parliament Secretariat Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan.
MP Papul, who won the Lakshmipur-2 seat in the 2018 election as an independent candidate, is now in Kuwait jail.
Two senior AL lawmakers blast corruption and tax proposals on private universities
Prof. Md. Ali Ashraf, a frontline Awami League MP from Cumilla-7, on Sunday said that corruption and money laundering continue despite the government’s vow to stop the vices.
Also on Sunday, another senior ruling party MP Mohiuddin Khan Alamgir from Chandpur-1 castigated the budget proposals to impose taxes on the income of private universities and medical colleges.
Read: New budget proposals inadequate in tackling poverty, say rights groups
Both the legislators were speaking on the Supplementary Budget in the parliament.
Ali Ashraf said, “Our heads go down with shame and hate due to some big thieves.” This is not for what the nation had fought the Liberation War, he said.
“We took part in the country’s Liberation War not for love for our own lives… not with the hope of getting and enjoying something,” he said.
“We had fought in response to the call of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to free the people and to see smile on their faces,” he said.
Read: New budget underestimated impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, says SANEM
He said that although the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government unequivocally have vowed zero tolerance against corruption and those involved in money laundering, “I think adequate and proper steps should be taken in this regard.”
The AL MP also suggested that the government should overhaul the tax administration to increase its efficiency, transparency, honesty and sincerity. “Otherwise, we will not be able to reach our desired destination.”
Lawmaker Muhiuddin Khan criticized the government for imposing tax on the income of private universities and medical colleges in the budget for fiscal 2021-22.
He said, such measures are not education friendly.
Read:Budget fails to reflect people’s aspirations: BNP
He mentioned that spreading of education through private entrepreneurship will be hindered due to imposing of such tax.
Mohiuddin Khan also proposed that the government forms a bank commission and a tax commission for bringing reforms in these two sectors.
Why PK Halder’s accomplices are still not arrested, asks HC
The High Court (HC) on Monday asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) why PK Halder’s accomplices – former Bangladesh Bank deputy governor SK Sur Chowdhury and executive Shah Alam – were yet to be arrested in a money laundering case.
Money laundering: ACC opens probe against RMG owners
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Monday launched an inquiry into an allegation of laundering around Tk 64,000 crore each year by some garment factory owners.
MP Papul’s conviction: Govt receives verdict copy
The government has recently received the copy of a 61-page verdict of Bangladeshi MP Mohammad Shahid Islam alias Kazi Papul’s conviction in Kuwait in a case related to human trafficking, residency visa trading and money laundering.