The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Police has filed 17 cases against 28 people, including Salman F Rahman, vice-chairman of Beximco Group, on charges of laundering approximately US$ 83 million abroad under the cover of export trade.
Its Financial Crime Unit filed the cases with Motijheel Police Station, according to a press release issued on Wednesday.
According to the primary findings of an investigation conducted under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, despite exporting goods by 17 Beximco Group companies, the export proceeds amounting to approximately $ 83 million have not been repatriated timely.
These companies exported goods between 2021 and 2024 against 93 letters of credit (LCs) or sales contracts authenticated by Janata Bank's Local Office Branch at Dilkusha in the capital.
According to existing law, there is an obligation for the exporters to repatriate proceeds into the country within 4 months of shipments.
However, Salman F Rahman and other individuals concerned in the group have not repatriated the export proceeds on time.
The CID investigation has also found the companies were involved in exporting goods to various countries, including the United Arab Emirates.
Most of the goods were exported to RR Global Trading's (FZE) Sharjah, UAE, and Saudi Arabia addresses. The company is jointly owned by Ahmed Shayan Fazlur Rahman, son of Salman, and Ahmed Shahriar Rahman, son of ASF Rahman (chairman of Beximco Group), according to the press release.
Additionally, goods were also exported to countries like Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Turkey, and Sri Lanka.
According to the CID, the accused committed offences under sub-section 14 and 16 of Section 2(sha) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act-2012, which is punishable under section 4(2) or 4(4) of the same law.
Besides, separate investigations are underway by the Financial Crime Unit concerning allegations that Salman F Rahman and Beximco Group's associated companies have taken loans amounting to about Tk 334.70 billion and transferred the funds abroad, along with other financial irregularities.
The 17 companies are: Adventure Garments Limited, Apollo Apparels Limited, Autumn Loop Apparels Limited, Bextex Garments Limited, Cosmopolitan Apparels Limited, Cozy Apparels Limited, Esses Fashions Limited, International Knitwear and Apparels Limited, Kanchpur Apparels Limited, Midwest Garments Limited, Peerless Garments Limited, Pink Maker Garments Limited, Platinum Garments Limited, Skynet Apparels Limited, Springfull Apparels Limited, Urban Fashions Limited, and Winter Sprint Garments Limited.
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