Rohingya held with NID bearing Ctg address, foreign currencies, passport
The accused, Md Toha, was detained by the Armed Police Battalion
A Rohingya man was arrested from the Link Road area of Cox's Bazar last night (14 May), while domestic and foreign currencies, a Bangladeshi National Identity Card (NID), a passport and other documents were recovered from his shelter in a refugee camp.
The accused, Md Toha, was detained by the Armed Police Battalion, said Mohammad Siraj Amin, commander of 14 APBn in Ukhiya, this evening (15 May).
After a case was filed under special laws, he was handed over to the Ukhiya Police Station.
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Inspector Md Mujibur Rahman of Ukhiya Police Station told The Business Standard that the suspect was handed over along with both local and foreign currencies.
"He has a Bangladeshi NID, passport, and even his daughter's NID. How a Rohingya obtained these documents, who assisted him, and where he got the foreign currencies from will all be investigated," the inspector added.
According to an APBn statement, Toha was detained last night based on confidential intelligence provided by APBn headquarters. He was later taken to his shelter in the camp, where a search was conducted in the presence of the head majhi.
During the search, officials recovered Tk53,000 in Bangladeshi currency, 3,250 Saudi riyals, 3,300 Malaysian ringgit and 600 US dollars.
Authorities also seized a national certificate issued by Chattogram City Corporation in Toha's name, the birth certificate of his daughter Anas Toha, a cheque leaf of Al-Arafah Islami Bank, a used mobile phone and a copy of an online NID.
Preliminary investigations found that Toha obtained a Bangladeshi NID using an address in Masterpara under Lohagara Police Station in Chattogram through fraudulent means and presented himself as a Bangladeshi citizen in different places.
Investigators also suspect him of involvement in money laundering activities inside the camp and human trafficking to countries, including Malaysia by exploiting vulnerable Rohingya refugees.
According to APBn, he is further suspected of financing militant groups and playing a key role in a fake passport network.
Investigators further suspect that he possessed foreign currencies such as dollars, ringgit and riyals in an attempt to smuggle them to neighbouring countries while evading customs duties and taxes.
Md Toha is a resident of Block D-5 of Lambashia Camp-1 East in Ukhiya and the son of Ahmed Hossain.
