Jewellers' association protests customs raids on Apan outlets‎

Bangladesh Jewellers Samiti (Bajus) has protested against the closure of five outlets of Apan Jewellers in customs raids in search for 'illegal wealth' of one of its owners Dildar Ahmed.

Chief Crimes Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 15 May 2017, 04:46 PM
Updated : 25 May 2017, 02:51 PM

The jewellers' association President Ganga Charan Malakar and General Secretary Dilip Kumar Agarwala issued a statement on Monday to protest against the customs operation following implication and arrest of Dildar's son in a rape case.

"Who will take responsibility for the livelihood of the 5,000 people directly or indirectly dependent on the five shops of Apan Jewellers?" they asked in the statement.

It said they demanded in an emergency meeting on Sunday that the authorities open the showrooms and stop the 'harassing' operation immediately.

The jewellers' association said it knew Apan Jewellers was operating business following all the rules set by the government.

Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) says it has not closed any shop of Apan Jewellers.

"Golden ornaments and diamonds were seized because Apan Jewellers could not provide all the papers. The gold and gems were given to Apan Jewellers' custody following requests of local traders' associations and representatives of the jewellers' association," CIID Director General Moinul Khan told bdnews24.com.  

Customs said it raided the Apan Jewellers shops on 'public demand'.

Dildar has come under fire following his comments on accusations against his son Shafat Ahmed of raping two university students at a hotel in Banani. Many have accused the wealthy gold merchant of smuggling.

Customs formed a committee to investigate Dildar and his business transactions in the country and abroad after the allegations surfaced. It wrote to the Bangladesh Bank for information in this regard, and the central bank said it was working on the matter.

The Directorate raided five Apan Jewellers outlets in Dhaka on Sunday. The outlet in Gulsan's Suvastu Tower was sealed and raided again on Monday.

Customs said 286 kilograms of golden ornaments and 61 grams of diamond were found in four of the five shops.