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The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) raided the home of gold merchant Monir Hossain aka Golden Monir in Merul Badda in the capital since midnight yesterday. There, a large amount of currency, gold and cash was seized, including weapons and drugs.
The RAB reported on Monir’s arrest on Saturday for possession of illegal drugs and weapons. Later in a briefing, RAB director (law and media), Lt. Col. Ashiq Billah, recounted the story of Monir becoming a ‘Golden Monir’, a general salesman in a clothing store in the market de Gauchia in the capital.
He said: “During the operation, we seized foreign currency (Bangladeshi Taka nine lakh), 700 ounces of gold (about eight kg) and Taka 19 lakh in cash from Monir’s house.”
The defendant Monir Hossain alias Golden Monir is basically a sunken merchant, gold smuggler and land broker. He owns a car showroom. It also has a partnership with a gold shop in Gauchia, ”he said.
The RAB official said: “We have seized two unlicensed luxury foreign vehicles from your home. Each of which is worth around three crore rupees. Additionally, three unlicensed luxury vehicles were also seized from their car selection.
The arrested Monir was a seller in a clothing store in the Gauchia market in the 90s. Later he became involved in the business of tableware, luggage (bringing various products to the country through tax evasion) and in a stage the smuggling of gold. He brought a lot of gold into Bangladesh from abroad illegally, ”he added.
Lieutenant Colonel Ashiq Billah said: “Monir’s gold smuggling route was Dhaka-Singapore and India. From all these countries it has imported a large amount of gold to Bangladesh through tax evasion. As a result, his name became Golden Monir.
He also said that a case was filed against Monir in 2008 under the Special Powers Act for smuggling gold.
The RAB director said: ‘Golden Monir has another identity: land thief. He has become the owner of a huge amount of money and assets in collusion with some RAJUK officials. The RAB has learned that it has over two hundred parcels in the DIT project in Dhaka City, as well as in Badda, Nikunj, Uttara and Keraniganj.
He also said that Monir has already admitted 30 parcels to the RAB.
He said: ‘Monir has become the owner of a large amount of money and assets by falsifying RAJUK documents. The amount of its assets smuggled into gold is over Tk 1,050 crore.
Ashiq Billah said: “Initially we have received several more accusations against him. The RAB will formally request the ACC, BRTA, CID for money laundering and tax evasion or NBR in this regard.
He said: ‘Of Monir’s crime, for holding unauthorized foreign currency, RAB will present a case at Badda Police Station under the Special Powers Act. He will also file a case under the Gun and Narcotics Act for possession of weapons and drugs.
Read more:
Golden Monir arrested with illegal drugs and weapons
