ACC sends list of accused money launderers to Interpol   

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has sent a list of seven accused money launderers to The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) said the anti-graft watchdog's Chairman Iqbal Mahmood on Tuesday.    

The ACC chief did not mention the names, however, The Business Standard obtained the names from multiple ACC sources.

The persons are: former managing director of the NRB Global Bank and Reliance Finance Prasanta Kumar Halder, former BACIS Bank managing director Kazi Fakhrul Islam, Yunus Badal of AnonTex Group, businessman Lutfar Rahman Badal, former

Jubo League leader Kazi Anisur Rahman, Abzal Hossain of DGHS, and Jahir Uddin of MM Vegetables.

The ACC has filed lawsuits against all of them and their properties have been confiscated. ACC sources said the accused have properties in Canada, Australia and Malaysia.   

"We have a list of 60 to 70 people and a list of seven has already been sent to Interpol," said ACC Chairman Iqbal Mahmood.

"We will also seek Interpol's help in pinpointing the others," he added.   

ACC sources said the anti-graft watchdog has drafted a list of 200 persons including: Bismillah Group Managing Director Khaza Suleiman, his family members including his wife Naurin Habib, Abdul Aziz of Crescent Group, and Tipu Sultan of Dhaka Trading.

Interpol will be provided with the information for about 60 to 70 people in the initial phases, added the sources.  

Former managing director of the NRB Global Bank and Reliance Finance Prasanta Kumar Halder allegedly embezzled Tk3,500 crore. The ACC filed a lawsuit against him in January in an accusation of accumulation of illegal wealth worth nearly Tk275 crore.

The anti-graft watchdog is currently looking into another bank and financial institution scam of Halder currently staying in Canada.

Kazi Fakhrul Islam was the then BASIC Bank managing director when the bank lost Tk4,500 crore in a major financial scam. He is accused in all the 61 cases filed subsequently. Fakhrul left the country in 2014 as the Anti-Corruption Commission initiated a probe.

The ACC confirmed the International Criminal Police Organisation that Fakhrul lives in Canada and the USA. 

In the meantime, ACC says that fired accountant of the Directorate General of Health Services Abzal Hossain is in Australia now. Abzal has four cases on numerous charges, including accumulating huge wealth illegally.

According to the ACC and media reports, though Abzal's salary was Tk30,000, he rode a Harrier car and owned at least five houses in Dhaka's Uttara. He also had a house in Sydney, Australia.

Jubo League leader Kazi Anisur Rahman came to the spotlight amid anti-casino raids in Dhaka last year. He used to serve the youth wing of the ruling Awami League as a peon and later secured the 'office secretary' post of Jubo League. 

He fled the country amid the anti-casino and anti-corruption raids. He has been traced in the Middle East by the ACC.                 

Businessman Lutfar Rahman Badal allegedly orchestrated a share market scam and laundered a huge amount of money.

Yunus Badal of AnonTex Group took Tk5,500 crore in bank loans and laundered the whole amount, ACC investigation suggests.

Jahir Uddin of MM Vegetables also took a bank loan of Tk1,745 crore and laundered it.