Yet again, a much-talked-about ruling party lawmaker and some influential people from the country’s coastal areas have been found involved in human trafficking and drug smuggling.
Their names and bank account details have been mentioned in a report prepared by the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) of the central bank for suspicious transaction in eight branches of different banks in Teknaf area.
The BFIU has sent the list to the Home Ministry and the Anti-Corruption Commission suggesting action against them.
The suspects include Awami League lawmaker from Cox’s Bazar 4 (Teknaf-Ukhia) Abdur Rahman Bodi, an official said seeking anonymity. Bodi’s name was earlier mentioned in a number of intelligence reports. He is also on the lists of human traffickers and drug lords prepared by the Home Ministry and the Narcotics Control Department.
The BFIU started work on the suspicious bank accounts following reports by several state-run intelligence agencies.
Sources say drug dealers and human traffickers earlier conducted the crimes through cash transaction. But now they are using bank accounts, different mobile banking services and bKash accounts.
In a recent report, an intelligence agency mentioned the names and addresses of 1,347 people for their involvement in human trafficking. The Dhaka Tribune published a report on the findings on May 26.
Before this, another intelligence agency named 26 police officials, and Awami League lawmaker Bodi and his family among others for their direct involvement in drug smuggling.
These reports also mentioned that the coastal area of the country, especially Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar, has turned into a safe haven for the criminals.
A huge number of people are being trafficked illegally towards Malaysia and Thailand through Cox’s Bazar. These people are sold out to organised human trafficking syndicates after confinement and realising money from their family members.
According to sources, there are eight branches of different banks in Teknaf. Sonali, Agrani, Janata, Islami Bank, Al-Arafah Islami Bank and AB Bank have one branch each while Bangladesh Krishi Bank has two.
The BFIU team visited the branches recently and found abnormal transactions in some accounts. One of the accounts is owned MP Bodi.
The investigators also found that the maximum transaction occurred in two accounts with AB Bank’s Teknaf branch – owned by Farid Ahmed and Amirul Islam, who the law enforcers say are criminals involved in drug smuggling and trafficking since long.
The team did not find detail information about their income and expenditure.
When contacted, BFIU Executive Director Mahfuzur Rahman said: “We suspect that the account holders may have link to criminal activities.”
He also said they were making a full report on the matter.
ACC Chairman M Badiuzzaman said he did not know anything about the Bangladesh Bank report. “Basically, we do not work on the human trafficking issue. But if there is any allegation of money laundering along with human trafficking in the report, then we will definitely take action.
“If needed, we will engage the police and the Criminal Investigation Department in the investigation.”