Man faces charges after 'using BNP chief Khaleda's illness' as pretext to swindle Tk 150mn

Police say Motalles Hossain posed for years as a liaison officer of Khaleda Zia and used this identity to defraud people

Police have filed a case against a man accused of defrauding people of Tk 150 million by using the illness of former prime minister and BNP chief Khaleda Zia as a pretext.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) said the case was registered at Pallabi Police Station in Dhaka on Sunday afternoon under the Money Laundering Prevention Act. Alongside the main suspect, Motalles Hossain, two to three unnamed individuals have also been accused.

According to CID, Motalles Hossain posed for years as a liaison officer of Khaleda Zia and used this identity to collect money from individuals and businessmen. Investigators said they found evidence of transactions worth around Tk 200 million through bank accounts under his name.

He also registered a company called ML Trading, but investigators said it was fictitious. Although it held a trade licence from the Dhaka North City Corporation, there was no record of contracting, imports or exports under the business.

The CID statement alleged that Hossain sometimes introduced himself as a garment factory owner, a tea garden entrepreneur, or a contractor, building connections with influential circles. He later collected around Tk 150 million into his own bank accounts by telling BNP insiders that Khaleda Zia was ill and needed financial help. The money was allegedly embezzled.

CID said that around Tk 53.3 million in several of Hossain’s bank accounts has been frozen by a court order.

The agency added that its investigation is continuing to identify and arrest others connected to the fraud ring.