The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed a money laundering case against former law minister Anisul Huq, his girlfriend Taufiqa Karim and four others on charges of extortion and illegal financial transactions amounting to nearly Tk25 crore.
The CID filed a regular case under Section 4(2) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012 (amended in 2015) with Bhatara Police Station on Sunday.
Special Superintendent of Police (Media), CID, Dhaka Jasim Uddin Khan confirmed the matter.
According to the CID’s Financial Crime Unit, Anisul Huq, Taufiqa Karim, Md Rashedul Kawsar Bhuiyan (Jiban) and Md Kamruzzaman formed an organised crime ring and systematically collected money through illegal means over a long period.
Investigators alleged that the group extorted around Tk10 lakh every month from various individuals and institutions using accounts at the National Bank of Pakistan, Gulshan branch.
The investigation revealed that Md Kamruzzaman, who joined the National Bank of Pakistan as Managing Director in 2015, regularly transferred funds to Taufiqa Karim’s personal bank account under the guise of a legal consultancy agreement with her law firm- Sirajul Huq Associates.
Until his absconding on 5 August 2024, the group allegedly collected Tk10.80 crore from the bank alone. Additionally, CID found that Taufiqa Karim’s personal accounts received about Tk10.60 crore from various individuals and organisations.
CID further stated that after Anisul Huq became law minister, his close aide Taufiqa Karim and Md Rashedul Kawsar Bhuiyan appointed Jiban as his personal assistant (PS).
During this period, they formed an NGO named “Legal Assistance to Helpless Prisoners and Persons”. Taufiqa Karim served as its chairperson Md Rashedul Kawsar Bhuiyan Jiban as secretary general, and Anisul Huq as treasurer.
Investigators found that the NGO collected large amount of money as donations through accounts maintained at Sonali Bank PLC, Supreme Court Branch. From 11 March 2015, to 30 June 2024, a total of over Tk24.53 crore was deposited into the NGO’s accounts.
During the investigation, the Dhaka Metropolitan Special Judge Court ordered the freezing of the said amount (Tk over 24.53 crore) deposited in 26 bank accounts in the name of complainant Taufiqa Karim.
The case is currently under investigation by the Financial Crime Unit of the CID. Authorities said efforts are ongoing to uncover the full scope of the crime, identify additional suspects, and take further legal action.
The CID reaffirmed its commitment to combating money laundering and financial crimes, stating that all individuals involved in such offenses will be brought to justice.
