Staff Reporter :
The central bank has sought bank account information of 13 individuals, including sons of high profile politicians, from the all commercial banks following allegations of money laundering and terror financing against them.
Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), an anti-money laundering arm of Bangladesh Bank (BB), issued a letter to managing directors and chief executive officers of all banks on September 18 asking them to send details of the bank accounts and all other financial transaction-related information of the 13 people by seven working days.
The letter (No-2888-2943) signed by Farhana Islam, an assistant director of BB, has asked the banks to provide account information of Khaleda Zia’s son Arafat Rahman Koko, Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad’s son Rahghir Al Mahi Ershad Shad, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury’s son Sajedul Hossain Chowdhury Dipu, Lawmaker Haji Mohammad Selim and Dhaka South Juba League unit President Ismail Hossain Samrat.
It also asked for details of controversial Awami League lawmaker from Feni, Nijam Uddin Hazari, former BNP lawmaker Shahjahan Siraj along with his son Rajib Siraj, former BNP lawmaker M Naser Rahman, former BNP lawmaker MAH Selim alias Silver Selim, BNP leader Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik, Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicle Importer and Dealers Association president M Habibullah Don and former Oriental Bank senior vice president Shah Md Harun.
The BB letter asked the banks to send the original applications for opening the accounts, signature sampling card, profile form and details of all financial transactions from the opening date of the account till now.
The BFIU also asked the banks to send the details of the bank accounts of GSA Cargo Ltd, an Bangladeshi agent of Etihad Cristal Cargo, Speed Air Cargo (Pvt) Net, a Sri Lankan agent of Etihad Cristal Cargo, Speed Mark Transportation (BD) Ltd, a Bangladeshi agent of Singapore Airlines, Allport UK, and United Aviation Enterprise Ltd, through a separate letter.
