Bangladesh Ex-Minister Faces Money Laundering Charges in Tk 87 Crore Land Fraud Scheme
Bangladesh's Criminal Investigation Department has filed money laundering charges against a former textiles and jute minister and eight accomplices for allegedly masterminding a sophisticated land fraud scheme worth nearly Tk 87 crore. The case against Golam Dastagir Gazi, who served as a lawmaker and cabinet minister, represents one of the largest corruption prosecutions targeting a senior government official in recent years.
According to investigators with the CID's Financial Crime Unit, the accused operated an organized criminal network between 2015 and 2024 that systematically forged documents, extorted landowners, and illegally seized and transferred more than 2,400 parcels of land in Rupganj, Narayanganj. The scale of the alleged operation prompted a Dhaka court to order the attachment of assets worth Tk 400 crore pending investigation.
Background and Context
The case emerges amid Bangladesh's ongoing efforts to combat high-level corruption and strengthen financial crime enforcement. The Money Laundering Prevention Act 2012, under which charges were filed, represents Bangladesh's primary legal framework for prosecuting financial crimes and recovering illicit assets. The legislation has been increasingly deployed in recent years against officials accused of abusing public office.
Land-related corruption has long been identified as one of Bangladesh's most persistent governance challenges. The country's rapid urbanization and soaring property values have created lucrative opportunities for officials to manipulate land records and transfer ownership through fraudulent means. The Rupganj area where the alleged crimes occurred has experienced particularly intense development pressure due to its proximity to Dhaka.
Key Figures and Entities
The primary accused, Golam Dastagir Gazi, served as Bangladesh's Textiles and Jute Minister before leaving office. Court documents and parliamentary records show he represented the Narayanganj constituency as an elected member of the legislature, giving him significant local influence during the period when the alleged crimes occurred. His position as a cabinet minister provided substantial authority over bureaucratic processes that investigators say were exploited to facilitate the fraud.
Among the eight co-accused is Gazi's former personal secretary, Emdadul Haque, who allegedly played a key operational role in the scheme. According to Special Police Super (media) Md Jasim Uddin Khan, several unidentified accomplices remain under investigation as the CID works to uncover the full extent of the criminal network. The case also implicates various intermediaries and allegedly complicit officials who facilitated the illegal land transfers.
Legal and Financial Mechanisms
The charges were filed under Section 4(2) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2012, which specifically addresses the acquisition, possession, or use of proceeds from criminal activities. Investigators allege that the accused generated criminal profits through systematic land seizure and then laundered these funds through complex ownership structures designed to obscure the trail of illegal benefits.
The investigation revealed a sophisticated modus operandi involving forged documentation, coercion of legitimate landowners, and exploitation of administrative loopholes in property registration systems. The court's asset attachment order worth Tk 400 crore—significantly exceeding the value of the originally seized land—suggests investigators believe the proceeds were reinvested across multiple asset classes. The appointment of the CID chief (Additional IGP) as receiver ensures centralized control over the seized assets pending trial.
International Implications and Policy Response
This high-profile prosecution arrives as Bangladesh faces increasing international pressure to demonstrate meaningful progress against corruption. The country's ranking in global corruption indices and eligibility for international development assistance partly depend on demonstrating robust enforcement against financial crimes, particularly those involving senior officials.
The case highlights critical vulnerabilities in land administration systems that require systemic reform beyond individual prosecutions. Anti-corruption advocates have called for digitization of land records, improved transparency in property transactions, and stronger protections for whistleblowers reporting official misconduct. The outcome of this investigation will likely serve as an important test case for Bangladesh's commitment to accountability at the highest levels of government.
Sources
This report draws on official statements from the Bangladesh Police Criminal Investigation Department, court filings from Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge, and reporting by Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) published in December 2025. Additional context was provided by Bangladesh's legal database and parliamentary records.
