Police to question former general Masud Uddin on trafficking, graft charges

The former army officer's role was widely discussed during the army-controlled caretaker government of 2007-8

A Dhaka court has remanded retired three-star general Masud Uddin Chowdhury into a five-day police custody in connection with a case involving alleged embezzlement of Tk 240 billion and human trafficking.

Masud, whose role was widely discussed during the army-controlled caretaker government of 2007-8, is also the managing director of 5M International Limited.

Masud, who was elected from the Feni-3 constituency on a Jatiya Party ticket in 2018, was arrested from his residence in Baridhara DOHS in the early hours of Tuesday.

The case was filed on Sept 3 last year at Paltan Police Station by Altab Khan, proprietor of Afia Overseas.

The case alleged that a powerful syndicate of 103 individuals, including Masud, orchestrated a monopoly over manpower export, allegedly embezzling approximately Tk 240 billion in "extortion fees" from various recruiting agents.

The suspect manipulated the manpower export sector by forming a syndicate to create an unfair playing field among the 2,000-plus recruiting agents, the case statement said.

The complainant also alleged that the suspect used intimidation and force to collect an additional Tk 1.5 lakh per head from 841 migrant workers, totalling over Tk 120.56 million his firm alone.

The case also names several high-profile figures from the previous Awami League administration, including former expatriates' welfare and overseas employment minister Imran Ahmad, former secretary Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, former MP and Ahmed International proprietor Benjir Ahmed, and Catharsis International proprietor Md Ruhul Amin Shawpon.

The case alleged that Saleheen involved his son in the syndicate, while Imran allegedly facilitated the group by approving a mobile app named “Probashi” for his brother-in-law’s son.

Sub-Inspector Raihanur Rahman of the DB Cyber and Special Crime (South) Division produced Masud before the court, seeking the remand.

In the prayer, the investigation officer noted that the suspect is a shrewd individual who, during preliminary questioning after arrest, provided information concealing his involvement in any of the matter.

“A thorough interrogation is necessary to unearth the mystery, arrest fugitives, and recover the embezzled funds," the police officer said in the remand prayer.

Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruk Faruqi argued in favour of the remand prayer. The defence, on the other hand, had moved a bail petition.

Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Junaid rejected the bail prayer and granted the five-day remand.