Hefajat, Like-Minded Groups: BFIU seeks bank info of 24 leaders

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) of the government has sought the bank account details of 24 leaders of different organisations, including Hefajat-e-Islam and 30 madrasas.

The BFIU issued the notice on March 31, asking the banks to send the information within five working days.

The move came right after the recent mayhem by activists of Hefajat-e-Islam that killed 13 people since March 26.

Hefajat had been protesting the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon the invitation of the Bangladesh government to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the country's independence.

Officials said the BFIU, the central financial intelligence agency, has taken the initiative to look into the sources of funds of the Islamist organisations.

"Banks have been asked to give details of all accounts belonging to the [specified] persons and madrasas as part of a BFIU investigation to detect whether they have been involved in money laundering and terrorist financing," an official told The Daily Star yesterday.

Those named in BFIU report includes Hefajat-e-Islam Ameer Junayed Babunagari, Secretary General Nur Hossain Kasemi, Vice President Mahfuzul Haque, Finance Secretary Monir Hossain Kasemi, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Ameer Moulana Islami Nurpori and Secretary General Mamunul Haque.

Mamunul is also the joint secretary general of Hefajat-e-Islam while Nur Hossain Kasemi had passed away in December last year.

The BFIU also asked the banks to submit account details of Islami Andolan Bangladesh Ameer Syed Mohammad Rezaul Karim, Secretary General Syed Faizul Karim and Bangladesh Imam and Musolli Oikya Parishad Secretary General at Demra Mahmudul Hasan Siraji.

Account information of some 11 people, who are holding top administrative positions in 11 madrasas located in Narayanganj and Brahmanbaria districts, has to be sent to the BFIU.

In addition, the BFIU has also asked banks to send account details of 30 madrasas, including Al-Jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Moinul Islam, popularly known as Hathazari Madrasa located in Chattogram.

Some other madrasas, located in Hathazari, Patiya and Fatickchhari, have also been mentioned in the BFIU letter.

It also asked for the bank details of 11 madrasas in Narayanganj, in its bid to see whether these institutions have any involvement in money laundering and terrorist financing.

Contacted, Abu Hena Mohd Razee Hassan, head of the BFIU, refused to make comments in this regard as an intelligence agency cannot reveal any information on any issue being investigated.

Hefajat men started the mayhem on March 26.

For three days straight, they ran amok vandalising and torching establishments and properties in Dhaka, Brahmanbaria, Chattogram and other districts.

Clashes involving Hefajat left nine people, including a 14-year-old boy, dead in Brahmanbaria while four people were killed after the Islamist group attacked a police station in Chattogram's Hathazari.

At least 43 cases have been filed so far in connection with the violence carried out by Hefajat activists in Dhaka, Chattogram, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj and Narayanganj.

Over 20,000 people were made accused in the cases.