Rab trying to identify those behind the rise of ‘Golden Monir’

Monir Hossain, widely known as "Golden Monir", was placed on an 18-day remand in three cases filed against him with Badda Police Station early today.

Monir was granted seven-day remand in each of two cases filed under Special Powers Act and Arms Act.

Dhaka Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Abubakar Siddique passed the order.

Meanwhile, Metropolitan Magistrate Masud-ur-Rahman granted a four-day remand after Badda police sought seven-day remand in another case filed under Narcotics Control Act, producing him before it.

Also read: From salesman in Gausia to amassing wealth worth Tk 1,050cr: Rab arrests 'Golden Monir'

A team of Rab arrested Monir yesterday after a 12-hour raid that started Friday night around 11:00 at his six-storey building on Road-11, Merul Badda.

Rab recovered gold ornaments weighing 8kg, Tk 1.09 crore in cash, Tk 9 lakh in forged currencies of 10 countries, five SUVs, a pistol, four bullets and four litres of foreign alcohol during the drive.

He was later handed over to Badda police.

Meanwhile, Rab today said they trying to identify those behind the rise of 'Golden Monir'.

Talking to reporters at Rab headquarters, Rab's legal and Media wing director Lt Col Ashique Billah, said, "'Golden Monir' was an opportunist politician. He was blessed by political leaders and government officials in 'luggage business', gold smuggling and land grabbing."

According to Rab, he worked as a salesperson at different markets in the capital in the 1990s. Then he started smuggling in gold bars to the country, and became so good at it that his acquaintances started calling him "Golden Monir".

In 2001, he started grabbing lands in different parts of Dhaka with the blessings from the then housing and public works minister and a section of unscrupulous officials of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk). He eventually amassed wealth over Tk 1,050 crore, Rab said.

MONIR TO LOSE 200 PLOTS IF EVIDENCE OF FRAUDULENCE FOUND: RAJUK

Meanwhile, Md Sayeed Noor Alam, chairman of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), today said that 'Golden Monir' will be stripped ofF the ownership of 200 plots if the allegations of irregularities against him are proven, UNB reported.

Talking to journalists about the recovery of documents of 200 plots from Monir's house, Alam said, "We're investigating the matter. Legal action will be taken against all those involved in the irregularities."

Responding to a question regarding Rajuk officials' involvement in the matter, the Rajuk chairman said, "I believe this didn't happened overnight …It's a long process that has come to light recently."

"We'll take action if any official is found involved in the matter after police investigations," Alam said.

When asked about the allegation of providing VIP protocol to Monir, the Rajuk chairman said, "No one was given VIP protocol."