Chargesheet pending in $100 million theft case

The investigation process is going to take a new turn in the Bangladesh Bank reserve theft case. After a decade-long investigation, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police has completed preparations for filing the chargesheet. The agency said that after submitting the chargesheet to the court, necessary legal action will be taken against the Bangladeshi individuals and organizations accused in the case. Sources claim that some former and current central bank officials are also among the accused.

On Thursday, CID Chief Additional IGP Ali Akbar Khan said that the investigation took a long time as the case is very complex and technology-dependent. The investigation process has been prolonged due to the collection and verification of information from various domestic and foreign organizations and international investigation reports. However, almost all the investigation work has now been completed and the agency hopes to submit the chargesheet to the court very soon.

Sources related to the investigation said that the draft chargesheet of the case names a total of 64 domestic and foreign individuals and organizations. It has been mentioned that primary evidence has been found in support of the charges against 10 Bangladeshi individuals and organizations. The charge sheet has revealed the negligence of some officials of Bangladesh Bank, including former Governor Dr. Atiur Rahman, the weakness of the security system and the failure to take necessary steps after the incident.

The theft of $101 million from Bangladesh Bank funds stored at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in February 2016 caused a stir around the world. The investigation revealed that the money was transferred through a cyber attack using the SWIFT payment system by sending fake messages. After the incident, a case was filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and the CID has been investigating since the beginning. After a long investigation, everyone's attention is now on the filing of a charge sheet and possible arrests.