Shahdiul Islam Shahid :About 4,000 Bangladeshis, who own plot of land or flat in Malaysia, under “Malaysia my second home programme”, have laundered about Taka 100 billion illegally over a decade, informed sources said on Monday. A top leader of Expatriate Bangladeshi Welfare Association of Malaysia, who is in Dhaka city now, told The New Nation that Bangladeshis ranked second among top 10 countries of migrants in 2014 under “Malaysia my second home program.” In 2012, Bangladeshis were third among the top 10 countries of migrants under the project. The programme is officially code named MM2H in Malaysia.Those want to get permanent residentship in Malaysia have to invest a certain amount of US dollar as fixed deposit in Malaysian Bank, invest certain amount to purchase land or flat and a tax-free car. There are two categories of long-term residentship for four persons of a family-the first category comprised those aged bellow 50 (family head) and the second above 50 years of age.A head of family aged bellow 50 should have to invest US$ 1,30,000 or (Malaysian Ringit) MYR 3,90,000. Of the money, MM2H fixed deposit should be MYR 1,50,000 (could be withdrawn after one year), Property purchase MYR 200,000 (financing MYR 300,000 property value MYR 500,000 with bank loan), MM2H tax free car MYR 24,000 (financing MYR 36,000 car value MYR 60.000 with bank loan) and MYR 16,000 agency & visa fees for four persons, Malaysian government website says. For the second-above 50 years of age the total cost would be US$ 1,08,000 or MYR 3,40,000.Almost all the Bangladeshis, who have been enjoying long term resident status under MM2H program taken out money to Malaysia through illegal ‘hundee’ since Bangladesh Bank does not allow transfer of so much amount of cash foreign currency abroad other than that of ‘medical expenses.’ Politicians and businessmen lead the Bangladeshis under MM2H program i.e. those own plot of land, individual house, flat and cars in Malaysia. The list politicians included former Forestry and Environment Minister Shahjahan Siraj, former MP Naser Rahman son the late Finance Minister M Saifur Rahman, businessman turned BNP leader AHM Selim or Silver Selim, Dipu Chowdhury son of Relief and Disaster Management minister Mufazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, controversial politician of Feni Nizam Uddin Hazari MP, Dhaka City Awami League (AL) leader Sheikh Selim MP, President of Dhaka South City Jubo League Ismail Hossain Chowdhury Samrat, City BNP leader Abul Bashar, Arafat Rahman Koko son of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, owner of STM Group Babul Hossain, Businessmen Nazrul Islam, Rafiqul Islam, Selim Hossain, Khokon Talukder, Khan Abu Zafar, Oriental Bank Manager Harun Or Rashid, Prof Abdullah, Owner of Rokeya Mansion of Purana Paltan and Car Plus Rumi, owner of Auto-museum Don, Bangladesh Country Director of Malaysian Airline and President of Chandpur District BNP Sheikh Farid Uddin Manik, Abul Kalam Azad, Jasim Uddin Pradhan, Rashed Badal, Alamgir Hossain and former Secretary Harun-Or-Rashid, among others. Informed sources said that in 2002, when MM2H programme was launched no-Bangladeshis had taken the facility while in 2003-32 Bangladeshis had taken the facility, in 2004-204, 2005-852, 2006-341, 2007-149, 2008-68, 2009-86, 2010-74, 2011-276, 2012-388 and till August 15, 2013-486 Bangladeshis taken the facility. So, 2,956 Bangladeshis have taken permanent residentship in Malaysia investing huge amount of money. Besides, over 1,000 Bangladeshis, who went to Malaysia taking job as expatriate professionals have settled there under MM2H programme.It is believed that a staggering amount of Taka to the tune of 60 billion was laundered in Malaysia for purchasing property while Taka 40 billion for business or others investment from Bangladesh. When asked, an Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank said, “It is illegal to take such amount of money abroad as per ‘Foreign Currency Control Act.” He expressed inability on the part of the central bank to bring back that money “because the Malaysian authorities will not agree to send the money back to Bangladesh.”
