The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has started the process of confiscating the assets of S Alam and former Land Minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed in the country and abroad in order to bring back the money of smuggling. Already the specific information of the smugglers abroad has been collected. Based on this, a direction in this regard may be issued from the High Court of the country. In the light of this directive, the assets in the country will be confiscated. At the same time, asset forfeiture will be applied through the appointed firm abroad. A responsible source of Bangladesh Bank has given this information.
Related sources said, first, final preparations are being made to bring back the smuggled money through two institutions. In the next step, action will be taken against three more institutions. In the third phase, action will be taken against five more institutions. The specific information trafficked through these institutions is being collected.
According to the related sources, some specific complaints have already been received against several organizations that have stolen money from the bank and smuggled it. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police has started an investigation against Saiful Alam, the owner of S Alam Group, his wife and children for allegedly smuggling Tk. According to sources, S Alam, his wife Farzana Parveen and two sons have smuggled money from Bangladesh to Europe including Singapore, Malaysia, Cyprus. With this money, they have purchased immovable assets and conducted business in the name of individuals and organizations. Established Canaly Logistics Pvt Ltd with a paid up capital of Tk 245 crore 74 lakh in Singapore with laundered money. Apart from this, he took a loan of 95 thousand crore rupees from six banks anonymously for the purpose of import-export and investment of goods abroad with the help of fake documents, forgery and fraud and embezzled them abroad. 18000 crore rupees have been smuggled through offshore banking by opening a shell company, a well-known company abroad. S Alam along with his wife Farzana Parveen, sons Ahsanul Alam and Ashraful Alam with the help of other persons related to their interests have laundered the money through organized crime. A concerned official said, ‘Initially, we have started investigating money laundering allegations against S Alam Group. Besides, investigations have also started against Beximco, NASA and Summit.
On the other hand, former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury’s wealth of 8000 crore rupees has been found in five countries so far. He is said to own 360 homes in the UK alone. In addition, it is said that there are 9 houses in the United States. Nazrul Islam Majumdar of NASA Group through personal power and arbitrariness has taken a loan of Tk 21 thousand crores through four institutions related to his interests. An investigation by an intelligence agency has revealed that a large part of it has been smuggled. According to related sources, more money has been laundered in these five countries – Dubai, United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore and Thailand. S. Alam, the bane of the country’s financial sector including banks, has taken over eight banks and taken over Tk 200,000,000 in anonymous loans. Banks are now on the way. Most of the banks are now unable to pay the customers. According to the related sources, it is alleged that most of the anonymous loans taken from the banking sector have been smuggled to different countries of the world. Thus, there are specific allegations of money laundering against Summit, Beximco and many other organizations.
Incidentally, in the 15 years of the fallen Awami League government, Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. A task force has been formed under the leadership of Ahsan H Mansoor. According to the sources, it has already been decided to take effective action against the money launderers who have received information from the country through various agencies. Among these, it has been decided to identify the money of top money launderers including S Alam, former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury, Summit, NASA Group, Beximco Group and bring it back to the country on a priority basis. For this, all kinds of legal and logistic support will be taken at home and abroad. Besides, measures will be taken to identify the movable and immovable assets of these criminals in the country and seize them quickly. Already, there were complaints that those looting money from banks were selling or handing over their immovable assets in the country. In this regard, Bangladesh Bank Governor had already informed that those who buy these assets should buy at their own risk. No one will take responsibility for it. Related sources said that legal action will be taken against those who buy the money of money launderers including S Alam.
