The story of PK Halder is by now known to all. The recently revealed Arav Khan is again a peculiar discovery, accidentally made as some of the country's popular figures happened to be at an opening ceremony of a gold shop in Dubai.
There are interesting commonalities in the two cases. Both migrated to India and managed to become Indian nationals overnight. PK Halder, the ex-banker who owns sizable property in India, along with six of his cohorts, is under arrest. It is really a wonder how a Bangladeshi could migrate, get Indian nationality, and amass such property in India.
Compared to him, Arav Khan is a very insignificant figure but seems to have astonishing wealth accumulation. Bangladesh law enforcing agencies do not have any clue as to how and when he could manage to leave the country and take not only refuge but citizenship.
From the video clips released on social media, it is not very difficult to form an idea of his background and naivety when he boasts of having a Canadian passport as well.
Bangladesh has approached Interpol with his criminal involvement in killing a police personnel. The Inspector General of Police has already appeared in the media to let us know of the government steps in getting him back. We also learn that the Indian government has to cancel his Indian citizenship first if we have to get him back to the country.
It is likely that India will activate its own agencies to find facts before they buy our story. It is surprising as to how a criminal can flee Bangladesh and get an Indian passport so quickly, whereas people already living there for generations are now worried whether they can retain their citizenship.
Without delving much deeper, a lay man can conclude that the criminal connections are so strong even across borders that they can manage identity, wealth, and whatever else required if they have the right connections.
When the PK Halder episode was hot, we recall our bureaucrats and top law enforcers sharing their hope that the gentleman will be brought to the country very soon. They approached the Indian authority on this and were very hopeful of his quick return. The media was naturally very keen to find out all possible details. I recall as one of the journalists approached the Indian high commissioner in Dhaka regarding handing over of PK Halder, he quietly replied that the Indian side will take steps as per the law.
There was truth in what the Indian envoy said -- and great learning for our bureaucrats and diplomats alike. It is very likely that when such sensational events come to the limelight, we become too enthusiastic. But ultimately our emotions and enthusiasm hardly move things in the real world. Connections, currents, and counter-currents flow much deeper beneath the surface.
One can just try to comprehend what all will be required for a person to flee Bangladesh and get not only a refuge but also a nationality, get into business, have massive wealth, buy property, and get settled. The barriers that he has to cross and the agents, friends, and connections he has to make and nurture, and of course the bureaucratic and legal channels he has to manage -- it is all simply mind boggling.
We have at least two successful cases making a fool out of all our law enforcers, regulatory bodies, anti-corruption agencies, the media, financial experts, and IT specialists.
We must make sure we unearth the full details so that we don't land up in more of such cases in the future. Whether or not these people are extradited and brought to the country, we need to fathom the network behind such mega fraudulence.
This only shows us how powerful money is in this world. It is through spending money at every stage that one can manage to get away with such crimes.
We have to realize that what is a priority to us may not be one to the UAE or India. There are places on Earth where if you can manage to land up with sufficient cash, nobody will ask you the source.
Brig Gen Qazi Abidus Samad, ndc, psc (Retd) is a freelance contributor.
