Casino kingpin Khaled’s 52 accounts frozen over money laundering
The Criminal Investigation Department expects to submit the charge-sheet in the case by this month
A total of 52 bank accounts of casino businessman Khaled Mahmud Bhuiyan and his family members have been frozen in connection with a money laundering case following a High Court order.
Granting a petition of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the High Court on January 19 ordered the authorities concerned to freeze the bank accounts owned by Khaled and his family.
Khaled, an expelled Jubo League leader, had been running casino business and was involved in extortion. He also allegedly laundered a large amount of money through 52 accounts in five banks.
Khaled and his family members opened the accounts in NCC Bank, Prime Bank, Al-Arafah Islami Bank, Sonali Bank, and Bank Asia.
The balance of the frozen bank accounts – Tk40 crore – will be deposited in the state treasury under the money laundering law, CID sources said.
They said Khaled made a transaction of Tk410 crore using these accounts.
A senior CID official said, "We are investigating a money laundering case filed by the Rapid Action Battalion. The investigating agency already found proof of Khaled's money laundering. Tk17.99 lakh in cash seized from his possession has already been deposited in the government treasury."
Imtiaz Ahmed, deputy inspector general of the CID, said, "The charge-sheet of the money laundering case against Khaled will be submitted as soon as possible."
Officials further said they would be able to submit the charge-sheet by this month after completing the due procedures.
As per CID sources, Khaled created four companies using the names of his family members and laundered a large sum of money.
Sources said Khaled made his sons the owners of two companies – Arko Builders and Arpon Production. He made his brother Masud Mahmud Bhuiyan the owner of another company named MM Builders.
He also set up Bhuiya and Bhuiya Developer, although the name of its owner could not be known.
Khaled, president of Fakirerpool Youngmen's Club, was arrested from the capital's Gulshan area on September 18 last year.
The Rapid Action Battalion recovered three firearms, Tk17.99 lakh in cash, and 1,950 pieces of yaba tablets from his possession.
Later, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit of the Bangladesh Bank directed the authorities concerned to freeze his bank accounts.
