Intelligence agencies are preparing a list of high profile persons, including ruling party men, controversial businessmen and some government officials, who have frequently visited abroad, suspecting them to be involved in money laundering, sources said.
A high official of an intelligence agency told the Daily Observer on Thursday that a huge amount of money has been laundered abroad from Bangladesh through legal and illegal channels.
The listed persons visited Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Kenya, Canada, USA, UK and Australia multiple times within a short period, according to the sources.
Most of the capital flow was carried out by illegal channel like Hundi. Many influential people also bought homes with the laundered money in Canada, USA and Australia, the sources said.
Law enforcers are still in the dark as to how much money has been laundered abroad from Bangladesh through different illegal channels into many of the casinos in Singapore and other countries.
In 2017, a report of Global Financial Integrity said unrecorded capital flow from Bangladesh stood at US$61.63 billion between 2005 and 2014, riding mostly on false invoicing misusing the legal channel.
Another official said those who frequently visited abroad were under surveillances.
Several former ministers, influential political leaders including that of the ruling party, Jubo League, controversial businessmen and some members of the law endorsement agencies are on the list, according to intelligence sources.
Though no specific names have been given to the investigation teams, the operation is underway.
Law enforcing agencies have launched a massive crackdown on illegal casinos and bars in Dhaka city as well as in other cities and towns in the country.
Awami League sources said members of Jubo League Dhaka (North) City unit were involved in grabbing disputed land and Jubo League Dhaka (South) unit men were involved in extortion and tender manipulation.
Senior intelligence officials said after completion of the list of beneficiaries, who were involved in the flight of capital from the country, action will be taken against them.
