Desk Report:
Imran Hossain, the Chairman of Sadiq Agro, was arrested on Monday by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in connection with a Tk 133 crore money laundering case. The arrest was confirmed by CID spokesperson, Additional Special Police Superintendent Jasim Uddin Khan.
The CID’s Financial Crime Unit had filed a case against Imran Hossain, Touhidul Alam Zenith, and Sadiq Agro under the Money Laundering Prevention Act. Investigations revealed that Sadiq Agro was involved in multiple illegal activities, including smuggling, fraud, and forgery. The company was found to have illegally imported Brahman cattle without government approval and smuggled small-sized cattle from Bhutan and Nepal, selling them in Bangladesh.
Moreover, Sadiq Agro was accused of marketing local cattle and goats as foreign or high-breed animals during sacrificial animal markets, inflating their prices. The company allegedly smuggled cattle and buffaloes from Thailand and Myanmar through the Teknaf and Ukhiya border areas of Cox’s Bazar. Imran Hossain is reported to have transferred approximately Tk 121.32 crore of illicit earnings through various bank accounts in his name and affiliated organizations.
In addition to these activities, the company misappropriated 15 Brahman cattle, which were supposed to be slaughtered and sold at fair prices according to government directives. The cattle were fraudulently listed as slaughtered on paper but were instead diverted for personal gain.
The investigation also uncovered that Sadiq Agro illegally occupied the Ramchandrapur government canal in the Beribandh area under Mohammadpur Police Station, without necessary approvals. The company further invested Tk 11.36 crore in fixed deposits under the name of Jalalabad Metal Limited, a company owned by Imran Hossain, bringing the total amount involved to Tk 133.55 crore.
The case was filed on March 3, 2025, at Mohammadpur Police Station by Sub-Inspector Mohammad Zonaid Hossain, the investigating officer, following the discovery of financial crimes during the CID’s investigation. Imran Hossain was arrested in connection with the ongoing investigation.