Another Jubo League leader held, RAB traces out billions of taka

The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) today arrested another central Jubo League leader, SM Golam Kibria Shamim alias GK Shamim, and uncovered more than a billion of taka from his residence and office.

A RAB-1 team seized Tk1.80 crore from his house and Fixed Deposit Receipt (FDR) worth Tk165 crore from his office in Niketan in the capital.

A team of plainclothes RAB personnel entered Shamim's residence at around 7am. The law enforcers searched the house for three hours and came out along with Shamim.

The RAB then raided Shamim's business office GK Builders around noon.

At a press briefing at Shamim's office later in the afternoon, Rab-1 Commanding Officer Lt Col Sarwar Bin Kashem said they had arrested Shamim along with his seven bodyguards. 

"We had information that GK Shamim possesses illegal money and arms. Besides, he was involved in extortion and tender manipulation. Based on the information, we searched his residence.

"During the raid, we arrested his seven bodyguards. Seven shotguns were seized from their possessions. A cache of bullets was also seized. Later, we conducted a raid on his office.

"We found a large amount of cash worth Tk1.8 crore at his residence," he said.

The law enforcement agencies are aware that he is a contractor, said the RAB official. 

But allegations run rife that he is involved in extortion and tender manipulation, he said, adding: "We will investigate the source of the money."    

"Apart from that, FDR worth Tk165 crore was also found in his office, of which Tk140 crore is shown in his mother's name and the rest in his name," said the RAB-1 commanding officer. 

During the drive RAB also seized foreign liquor, foreign currencies and firearms from the office, he added.

Executive Magistrate Sarwoer Alam of RAB headquarters, who was present at the briefing, said, "He [Shamim] was arrested based on specific allegations. His mother does not have any business, but she owns FDR worth Tk140 crore."

Moreover, the seven seized firearms have been used for extortion and tender manipulation, he said, adding that there are allegations that Shamim earned the money illegally in the guise of running business as a contractor.

GK Shamim, cooperatives secretary of Jubo League's central committee, is also an influential contractor in the capital's Sabujbagh, Basabo and Motijheel areas.