The court has seized 299 percent of the land and 4 flats bought with embezzled money of Shahjalal Fertilizer of Sylhet. Its deed value is more than 10 crore 5 lakh rupees. Khondkar Muhammad Iqbal stole this money from the fertilizer factory of Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) through forgery.
He was the head of accounting department of Shahjalal Fertilizer. The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is investigating allegations of embezzlement of over Rs 38 crore against him. In view of CID's application, the court seized the land and flats in different areas. Apart from this, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is also investigating 26 separate cases related to this fraud.
It is known that in 2005, Iqbal took a job as an assistant accountant in Shahjalal Fertilizer Factory of BCIC. He was fired from that factory 5 years ago due to embezzlement. In his 14 years of service, he has owned 91 cars, several flats in Dhaka, two department stores and huge wealth in different areas including Dhaka-Gazipur. Behind these, CID has found evidence of withdrawing Tk 38 crore from Shahjalal fertilizer factory project by opening two companies in the name of his wife and submitting fake bills and receipts.
CID spokesperson Special Superintendent of Police Azad Rahman told Jugantar that CID's Financial Crime Unit filed a case under the Money Laundering Act in April last year on charges of misappropriation of Shahjalal Fertilizer's money. Khandkar Muhammad Iqbal and his wife Halima Akhtar were accused. There is evidence of embezzled money to buy land and flats in different areas. In view of this, the court seized these assets. Investigation of the case is ongoing. It is looking for the destination of embezzled money and who else is involved in the incident.
Those concerned said that RAB arrested Iqbal and his wife Halima Akhtar in June 2022. They were then booked under the Arms and Special Powers Act. Later, based on RAB's complaint, CID started investigating Iqbal and Halima couple. After investigation, CID Deputy Inspector (SI) Sohanur Rahman filed a case under Prevention of Money Laundering Act on April 26, 2023. It is said that Iqbal embezzled Tk 38.83 lakh 27 thousand 851 from Shahjalal Fertilizer project of BCIC by submitting fake bills and receipts through fraud. These fake bills and receipts were created in the name of Iqbal's wife Halima Akhtar's two companies, TI International and Nusrat Traders.
According to the CID, among the seized assets are 4 flats in Ramna and Airport areas of Dhaka with a deed value of more than 2 crore 93 lakhs. Dhaka, Gazipur and Mymensingh have a total of 299.1 percent of the land whose deed value is more than 7 crore 11 lakh. Besides, according to the information obtained from Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), 91 vehicles are registered in the name of Iqbal and his related organizations. The couple owns various types of vehicles including microbuses, cars, pickups, and rent-a-car business through TI International. Besides, there are three chain shops named One Point Pharma and Departmental Store in Siddheswari, Dhaka. Currently CID is verifying the information of these assets.
