Ex-law minister Anisul Huq now arrested in money laundering case
CID reported that the group collected Tk10.80 crore from the bank alone until they fled following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024
A Dhaka court today (2 March) approved a police plea to have former law minister Anisul Huq and his former personal assistant, Md Rashedul Kawsar Bhuiyan alias Jibon, arrested in a case filed over laundering nearly Tk25 crore abroad after collecting the money through extortion.
Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Ehsanul Islam passed the order following an application filed by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police.
According to the CID's Financial Crime Unit, the accused allegedly formed an organised group that systematically collected large sums of illegal money through extortion from various individuals and institutions.
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Preliminary investigations found that the group regularly extorted Tk10 lakh each month through the Gulshan branch of the National Bank of Pakistan.
The probe revealed that the ring began its operations after Md Kamruzzaman joined NBP as managing director in 2015.
He allegedly entered into a nominal legal consultancy agreement with "Sirajul Huq Associates," a law firm owned by Towfika Karim, an associate of the former minister.
Under this guise, funds were regularly transferred to Towfika's personal bank accounts. CID reported that the group collected Tk10.80 crore from the bank alone until they fled following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024.
Furthermore, records show an additional Tk10.60 crore was extorted from other sources and deposited into Towfika's accounts.
The investigation further highlighted the role of an NGO named "Legal Assistance to Helpless Prisoners and Persons," where Anisul Huq served as treasurer, Towfika Karim as chairperson, and Rashedul Kawsar Bhuiyan as secretary general.
Using a bank account at the Supreme Court branch of Sonali Bank PLC, the group allegedly collected over Tk24.53 crore between 11 March 2015 and 30 June 2024.
Investigators claimed this was a front for regular extortion and was used to collect regular payments from different individuals and entities.
Based on these findings, the CID filed the case on 10 January this year. CID sources have said that during the investigation, a total of 26 bank accounts in Towfika's name – holding Tk24.53 crore – were frozen following an order from a Dhaka court.
Anisul Huq, who was initially arrested on 13 August 2024, at Sadarghat while allegedly attempting to flee by river, is already facing several other charges.
CID stated that showing the former minister arrested in the money laundering case was essential for the sake of a fair and thorough investigation, as preliminary evidence has already established a link between the accused and the alleged financial crimes.
