Central bank collecting info on financial transactions of Apan Jewellers’ Dildar, son Safat

The Bangladesh Bank has moved to collect information on financial transactions by Dhaka hotel rape accused Safat Ahmed and his father, Dildar Ahmed, one of the owners of Apan Jewellers.

An official of the Financial Intelligence Unit at the central bank confirmed to bdnews24.com the move on Sunday. He, however, requested not to be named.

He said intelligence agents of the central bank had been working for some days on Dildar. “As part of the investigation, information on transactions by him has been sought from the banks,” he said. 

“It is also being checked whether money has been laundered through the organisation,” he added. 

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

The Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate 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 last Thursday.

"He owns a lot of money. We will try to know what he had done before and how he became so rich," CIID Director General Moinul Khan said.

The Directorate raided five Apan Jewellers outlets in Dhaka earlier on Sunday. One of the shops has been sealed.

CIID chief Moinul said the operation was part of an effort to locate any ‘illegal wealth’ hidden by the owner and suspicious activity surrounding the purchase of gems and jewellery by the business.

One of the girls allegedly raped by Safat had told bdnews24.com: “After the rape Safat told me the family smuggled gold. Nobody could touch them for a few rapes or murders because they paid off the police, he said.”