According to money laundering case documents, Tk 7.91 billion were deposited in 129 banks in the name of Golden Monir and its associated organizations. Monir converted a part of this income into movable and immovable properties by investing in businesses in collusion with members of the organized crime gang.
Following Monir's arrest, the RAB said that Monir was a salesman at a clothing store in the city's Gausia Market in the 1990s. Later he joined a crockery shop in Mauchak Market. He then joined the 'baggage party' and gold smugglers based at the airport and earned the title of 'Golden Monir'. He initially smuggled clothes, cosmetics, electronic equipment, computers by evading taxes and later started smuggling gold through air route.
According to CID information, Golden Monir purchased 30 plots, including 20 government plots, 15 houses, a housing project and two car showrooms, in the name of himself, his wife and son with ill-gotten gains. However, in an asset statement filed with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in 2009, Monir stated that his immovable assets were worth 30 million taka, with movable assets amounting to 6.7 million.
*This article, which was originally published in Prothom Alo print and online editions, has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam