Sacks full of money, gold bars seized in Dhaka

Over 60 kgs of contraband gold worth nearly Tk 300 million and a large sum of money have been recovered from a house in Dhaka.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 25 Dec 2014, 03:13 PM
Updated : 25 Dec 2014, 07:38 PM

Police and Customs detectives seized them from the sixth floor of house 29/1 in Purana Paltan on Thursday evening.

Flat owner Mohammad Ali has been arrested but he has not clearly said how he got hold of the gold and money.

At a press conference late Thursday, Customs detectives said they had found five sacks of money and 528 gold bars, each weighing 10 tolas.

Most of the money is Bangladesh currency and the rest Saudi Riyal.

During the drive, Customs detectives' Deputy Commissioner Mostafizur Rahman said foreign currencies were also found from the 11th floor where Ali's son lives.

The money has been taken to airport where it will be counted while being monitored by CCTV.

Rahman said the money was hidden under Ali's bed.
Ali claimed he had stashed away Tk 45 million he got from selling land.
The detectives said they had not arrested Ali's son and wife since he had claimed ownership of the currencies.
About the gold, Ali claimed his 'friend', Sirajganj Sadar Upazila Chairman Mohammad Riaz Uddin, had asked him to keep them several months ago.
Rahman said, "The gold bars were wrapped in clothes in the same way they are kept for smuggling."
However, ruling Awami League leader Riaz, who has been elected an Upazila Chairman for the first time, refuted the claims.
He claimed he had no ties with Ali.
"Neither the foreign currencies nor the gold bars are mine," he told bdnews24.com.
"I don't even know the man (Ali). He's lying."
(1 tola = 11.66 gram)