Kazi Zahidul Hasan :
Nearly 3000 local agents of mobile financial service (MFS) providers are under intelligence agencies scanners after disclosure that they are involved in money laundering through their accounts.
The agencies came up under surveillance as per request of the central bank, which earlier unearthed many cases of illegal money transfers by the mobile financial service providers, specially through the bKash.
Bangladesh Bank (BB) in September last year, ordered bKash to suspend activities of its 2,887 agents as their accounts were found involved in making unusual money transfer violating the Money-Laundering and Terrorism Financing Act.
Details of the agents and their bkash accounts were sent to the intelligence agencies for further probe and legal actions.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Wednesday night arrested eight bKash agents for illegal transactions through mobile financial service.
“The eight were arrested from various places around the country,” Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police Sharmin Jahan told media. The Police officer said nine cases were filed against them but did not provide details on the detainees.
“The MFS has become a favorite tool of money laundering through tourists, human and drug traffickers and such other people. “They have developed unholy nexus with a section of bKash agent to send and get money from within and outside the country,” another CID official told. The New Nation yesterday asking not to be named.
Launched in 2011 bKash, a BRAC Bank subsidiary, accounts for nearly 70 per cent share of mobile financial transactions in the country followed by DBBL that holds remaining 30 per cent share.
The CID official said, “We have already launched investigation against the bkash agents who were reportedly involved in money laundering breaching laws of MFS. We have found substantive evidence of illegal transfer by many of the bkash agents during the inquiry.”
“bKash agents who were arrested on Wednesday were also involved in illegal money transaction generated from criminal activities, including ransom and hundi,” he added.
Shamsuddin Haider Dalim, Head of Corporate Communications at bKash, could not be reached for comments.
“The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) is closely monitoring the financial transfer of mobile financial service providers as part of its routine job to prevent illegal financial flow from the country,” a senior BB official told The New Nation yesterday.
When asked, he said, Bangladesh Bank has already sent a list of rouge bKash agent to intelligence agencies seeking action against them. We’re checking them at field level, he said.
Nearly 3000 local agents of mobile financial service (MFS) providers are under intelligence agencies scanners after disclosure that they are involved in money laundering through their accounts.
The agencies came up under surveillance as per request of the central bank, which earlier unearthed many cases of illegal money transfers by the mobile financial service providers, specially through the bKash.
Bangladesh Bank (BB) in September last year, ordered bKash to suspend activities of its 2,887 agents as their accounts were found involved in making unusual money transfer violating the Money-Laundering and Terrorism Financing Act.
Details of the agents and their bkash accounts were sent to the intelligence agencies for further probe and legal actions.
The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Wednesday night arrested eight bKash agents for illegal transactions through mobile financial service.
“The eight were arrested from various places around the country,” Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police Sharmin Jahan told media. The Police officer said nine cases were filed against them but did not provide details on the detainees.
“The MFS has become a favorite tool of money laundering through tourists, human and drug traffickers and such other people. “They have developed unholy nexus with a section of bKash agent to send and get money from within and outside the country,” another CID official told. The New Nation yesterday asking not to be named.
Launched in 2011 bKash, a BRAC Bank subsidiary, accounts for nearly 70 per cent share of mobile financial transactions in the country followed by DBBL that holds remaining 30 per cent share.
The CID official said, “We have already launched investigation against the bkash agents who were reportedly involved in money laundering breaching laws of MFS. We have found substantive evidence of illegal transfer by many of the bkash agents during the inquiry.”
“bKash agents who were arrested on Wednesday were also involved in illegal money transaction generated from criminal activities, including ransom and hundi,” he added.
Shamsuddin Haider Dalim, Head of Corporate Communications at bKash, could not be reached for comments.
“The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) is closely monitoring the financial transfer of mobile financial service providers as part of its routine job to prevent illegal financial flow from the country,” a senior BB official told The New Nation yesterday.
When asked, he said, Bangladesh Bank has already sent a list of rouge bKash agent to intelligence agencies seeking action against them. We’re checking them at field level, he said.
