A Dhaka court has granted a five-day remand for former military officer and ex-lawmaker Masud Uddin Chowdhury for interrogation in a human trafficking case filed with Paltan Police Station.
On Tuesday, Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Aminul Islam Junaid passed the order after a hearing. Earlier in the afternoon, the investigation officer, DB Sub-Inspector Raihanur Rahman, produced Masud before the court and sought a five-day remand for proper investigation. Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Omar Faruk Faruki argued in favor of the remand, while the defense sought cancellation of the remand and bail. After the hearing, the court granted the remand.
Masud was arrested late Monday night from the Baridhara area of the capital and subsequently shown arrested in the Paltan human trafficking case.
Speaking at a press briefing at the DMP Media Centre, DB chief and Additional Commissioner Mohammad Shafiqul Islam said that a DB team arrested Masud from Baridhara. He added that authorities have so far found information on 11 cases against him, including three pending in Feni where arrest warrants have already been issued due to his absconding status. In addition, eight more cases—three in Feni and five under DMP—are currently under investigation, alongside multiple allegations being probed by the ACC and CID.
According to police, Masud faces serious charges including murder, attempted murder, human trafficking, and money laundering in several police stations including Banani, Paltan, Kotwali, Mirpur, and Hatirjheel. The Paltan case specifically relates to human trafficking, where he is listed as the third accused among a total of 101 defendants.
The case was filed on September 3 last year by Altaf Khan, proprietor of Afia Overseas, alleging embezzlement and human trafficking involving around Tk 24,000 crore. The case also names former expatriates welfare minister Imran Ahmed, former secretary Dr. Ahmed Munirus Salehin, and several others.
The complainant alleged that the accused formed a syndicate in the overseas employment sector, creating discriminatory practices and extorting large sums from recruiting agents. He claimed that 841 individuals were forced to pay Tk 1.5 lakh each, totaling over Tk 12.56 crore, and that the syndicate collectively embezzled nearly Tk 24,000 crore from various businessmen.
