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Questions over Ram Temple funding now under CID probe
Questions that emerged months ago over the source of funding for an 81-foot Ram statue project in Gaibandha’s Palashbari have now become part of an official investigation by Bangladesh’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
Haridas Chandra Tarunidas had drawn public attention after announcing the construction of the giant Ram statue project. At the time, along with religious debates, the biggest question surrounding the initiative was the source of funding for such a large-scale project.
Haridas had claimed that the entire project would be financed through donations from devotees. However, no detailed information was made public regarding the estimated cost, donation collection process, identities of donors or financial transparency of the project.
Months later, those unanswered questions have reached the CID following a money laundering case filed against Haridas. He is currently on a four-day remand as ordered by a court.
According to the CID, investigators have found transactions of around Tk 9.35 crore through five bank accounts and four mobile financial service (MFS) accounts operated under Haridas’ name. The agency said the transactions did not appear consistent with his known sources of income.
Investigators are now trying to determine the source of the funds, the identities of those who deposited the money, the purpose behind the large-scale transactions, and whether there was any organized financial network involved or if the money came from legitimate donations.
The Ram statue project has once again drawn attention because of the financial questions surrounding it. However, the CID has not so far provided any evidence publicly linking the announced donations for the statue project with the financial transactions mentioned in the case.
The investigation is focused on verifying the source of the money, the legality of the transactions and the actual use of the funds.
Haridas’ lawyer has rejected the CID’s allegations, claiming that the case has no legal basis and that the truth will emerge after the investigation.
The issue that was once part of public debate has now become a subject of a criminal investigation. Whether there is any connection between the funds announced for the Ram statue project and the transactions under CID scrutiny remains unclear. Investigators are expected to look for further answers during the ongoing remand and subsequent probe.
-HIS
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
