Former MP Masud Uddin Chy arrested in money laundering case

A Dhaka court has formally shown former Feni 3 lawmaker Lt Gen Retd Masud Uddin Chowdhury arrested in a case filed under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, following his detention earlier this year.

Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Sefatullah issued the order on Monday after police presented Chowdhury before the court and sought permission to show him arrested in the case.

Members of the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police detained the former parliamentarian during a raid in the Baridhara DOHS area of the capital on 23 March.

According to case documents, the allegations relate to the recruitment and overseas placement of Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia between 18 August 2016 and 30 May 2024. Investigators claim that 9,372 workers were each charged Tk 150,000, significantly higher than the government approved fee of Tk 78,990.

In addition to the recruitment charge, workers were reportedly required to pay Tk 36,500 for expenses including passports, Covid 19 testing, medical examinations and clothing. Authorities allege that an extra Tk 107,510 was unlawfully collected from each worker.

The total amount allegedly overcharged and subsequently laundered stands at approximately Tk 100.75 crore.

The case was filed with Banani Police Station in Dhaka on 28 August 2025 under the Money Laundering Prevention Act. The investigation is ongoing.