A huge amount of money is being siphoned off to Canada, Malaysia, America, Singapore and other countries. Many Bangladeshis have bought and built luxurious residences in ‘Begumpara’ in Toronto of Canada, spending millions of laundered money from Bangladesh.
“Siphoning off money abroad are big incidents of money laundering. Those who are involved in laundering of money and build Begumpara abroad, they should be tried. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) should take action against them,” said the High Court.
The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice KM Zahid Sarwar made the remarks during hearing of a bail petition of one of the accused in a money laundering case on Sunday (October 3).
The HC bench, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the ACC’s crackdown on traders.
During the hearing of the bail petition filed by Dinajpur district Juba League leader Khalilullah Azad Milton, the High Court told the ACC lawyer, “If the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) continues its operation against businessmen, how will the country develop? Those who are building Begumpara outside the country and those who are siphoning off money to Malaysia, America and other countries, catch them.”
After making the comment, the court granted eight weeks bail to Khalilullah Azad Milton in the money laundering case. However, the court ordered that the accused will submit his passport as a condition of bail and he can’t leave the country.
Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua appeared for the bail petition in the court, while Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan took part in the hearing on behalf of the ACC.
Deputy Attorney General Amit Talukder represented the state.
Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua told the media that the branch of Sonali Bank in Dinajpur mentioned in the case did not exist. However, it has been alleged in the case that Khalilullah Azad has deposited Tk 14 crore 71 lakh 73 thousand and 218 at different times. It is also alleged that he withdrew the money at different times.
It is learned that Khalilullah Azad, former Assistant Secretary of Dinajpur district Jubo League, is now on bail in 22 more cases. A total of 16 cases were filed against him in four months while he was in jail.
Earlier, at a press conference this year, Khalilullah Azad’s family alleged that the police had filed 16 false cases against Khalilullah Azad Milton in just four months. Police are not allowing him to get out of jail after showing bail in one case and arrest in another.
