Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed a money laundering case against former law minister Anisul Huq, his associate Taufiqa Karim and four others over alleged extortion and illegal financial transactions involving nearly Tk 25 crore.
The case was lodged on Sunday with Bhatara Police Station under Section 4(2) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012 (amended in 2015), CID officials said.
Confirming the matter, CID Special Superintendent of Police (Media) Jasim Uddin Khan said the case stems from an investigation by the agency’s Financial Crime Unit.
According to investigators, Anisul Huq, Taufiqa Karim, Md Rashedul Kawsar Bhuiyan (also known as Jiban) and Md Kamruzzaman formed an organised crime syndicate that allegedly extorted money systematically over a long period.
The group is accused of collecting around Tk 10 lakh per month from various individuals and institutions through accounts maintained at National Bank of Pakistan’s Gulshan branch.
The CID said Md Kamruzzaman, who joined the bank as managing director in 2015, regularly transferred funds to Taufiqa Karim’s personal bank account under the pretext of a legal consultancy agreement with her law firm, Sirajul Huq Associates.
Investigators estimate that until Kamruzzaman went into hiding on August 5, 2024, the group collected Tk 10.80 crore from the bank alone.
In addition, Taufiqa Karim’s personal accounts reportedly received approximately Tk 10.60 crore from various individuals and organisations, the CID said.
The investigation further revealed that after Anisul Huq became law minister, his close aide Taufiqa Karim and Md Rashedul Kawsar Bhuiyan appointed Jiban as his personal secretary.
During this period, they established an NGO named Legal Assistance to Helpless Prisoners and Persons, where Taufiqa Karim served as chairperson, Jiban as secretary general, and Anisul Huq as treasurer.
Investigators found that the NGO collected large sums of money as donations through accounts at Sonali Bank PLC’s Supreme Court Branch.
Between March 11, 2015, and June 30, 2024, more than Tk 24.53 crore was deposited into the NGO’s accounts.
During the investigation, Dhaka Metropolitan Special Judge Court ordered the freezing of Tk 24.53 crore held across 26 bank accounts linked to Taufiqa Karim.
The CID said the case remains under active investigation, with efforts underway to uncover the full extent of the alleged crimes, identify additional suspects and take further legal action.
Reaffirming its stance, the CID said it remains committed to combating money laundering and financial crimes and will ensure that all those involved are brought to justice.
SH
