Staff Reporter :
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed at least 17 cases against 28 persons, including former private industry and investment adviser of the ousted prime minister, Salman Fazlur Rahman on the charges of siphoning off USD 83 million equivalent to Taka 1000 crore, alongside pursuing another inquiry into laundering abroad Tk 33,470 crore more.
Financial crime unit of the CID filed the cases under section 2 (Sha)/14/26 and 4(2)4 (4) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012 with Motijheel Police Station under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).
BEXIMCO Group owner Salman and his accomplices laundered the money abroad through 17 companies in collaboration with some organised criminal gangs, said a CID press release.
It said Salman, his brother Sohel F Rahman and 17 companies owned by BEXIMCO Group opened 93 LCs with the Dilkusha local branch of Janata Bank PLC from 2021 to 2024 and exported goods worth $83 million.
The 17 organisations are Adventure Garments Ltd, Apollo Apparels Ltd, Autumn Loop Apparels Ltd, Bextex Garments Ltd, Cosmopolitan Apparels Ltd, Cogi Apparels Ltd, Asses Fashion Ltd, International Knitwear and Apparels Ltd, Kanchpur Apparels Ltd, Midwest Garments Ltd, Peerless Garments Ltd, Pink Maker Garments Ltd, Platinum Garments Ltd, Skynet Apparels Ltd, Spring Fool Apparels Ltd, Urban Fashion Ltd and Winter Sprint Garments Ltd.
Most of the exported goods were sent to different addresses of RR Global Trading (FZE), owned by Salman, his son Ahmed Shayan Fazlur Rahman, Ahmed Shahriar Rahman, son of Sohel F Rahman in places including Sharjah, UAE and Saudi Arabia, the CID said.
Apart from these, the accused also exported goods to countries such as Germany, Netherlands, UK, Turkey and Sri Lanka. They did not bring back the money to the country despite the expiration of the stipulated time of four months.
The financial crime unit is also conducting a separate inquiry into an allegation that Salman siphoned off Tk 33,470 crore more after taking loans.