CID files money laundering case against ex-law minister Anisul Huq and associates

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed a money laundering case against former law minister Anisul Huq, his associate Toufika Karim, and two others over allegations of extortion amounting to Tk 24.53 crore.

According to preliminary findings of the CID’s Financial Crime Unit, Anisul Huq, Toufika Karim, Md Rashedul Kawsar Bhuiyan alias Jibon, and Md Kamruzzaman allegedly formed an "organised criminal ring" that systematically collected large sums of money through extortion over several years.

The details were shared in a press release signed by Jasim Uddin Khan, special superintendent (media) of CID.

Investigators said the group collected Tk 10 lakh monthly from individuals and organisations through the Gulshan branch of the National Bank of Pakistan. Kamruzzaman, who joined the bank as managing director in 2015, allegedly transferred money regularly to Toufika Karim’s personal account under the guise of a consultancy agreement with her law firm, Sirajul Haq Associates.

Until fleeing on August 5, 2024, the group reportedly collected Tk 10.80 crore from the National Bank of Pakistan alone.

The CID also found evidence of another Tk 10.60 crore deposited into Toufika Karim’s personal account from various individuals and organisations.

The investigation further revealed that after becoming law minister, Anisul Huq appointed Toufika Karim and Jibon as his personal secretaries and established an NGO named “Legal Assistance to Helpless Prisoner and Persons.”

In the NGO, Toufika served as chairperson, Jibon as secretary general, and Anisul himself as treasurer.

Using an account at Sonali Bank PLC’s Supreme Court branch, the group allegedly collected extortion money regularly. Between March 11, 2015, and June 30, 2024, a total of Tk 24.53 crore was collected through the NGO.

During the investigation, 26 bank accounts in Toufika Karim’s name containing Tk 24.53 crore were frozen following an order of the Dhaka Metropolitan Special Judge’s Court.