A central bank investigation teamfound several Sri Lankan nationals involved in money laundering activities fromthe country in the name of remitting profit of shipping agents.
Bangladesh Bank wrote a letter tothe Anti Corruption Commission to carryout a thorough investigation into thematter. It is alleged that shipping agents 'Speed Mark Transportation LankaPvt. Limited ' and Speed Air Cargo Net Pvt. Limited owned by a Sri Lankannational Anslem Sunil Malawana has been engaged in laundering huge amount offoreign currency since 2008.
The team revealed that Malawanahas workout his contacts with Etihad Airways along with Bangladesh governmentowned GSA Cargo Limited as country's sole agent.
It is also found that Malawanadid not register his name with GSA Cargo Limited but he had his own Man,Dumindu Amarathunge, another Sri Lankan national as the cargo manager. Hehelped him to take the money out of the country.
Amarathunge was presented to theBangladesh market as the representative of Etihad Airways, although he was therepresentative of Mr. Malawana to control the commercial and financial businessof the GSA.
Mr. Malawana, his two young sons,various senior executives of Speed Air Net Cargo Pvt. Ltd, and Speed Air CargoNet (Pvt) Ltd were frequently visiting Bangladesh since the commencement of theGSA Cargo Limited in Bangladesh to collect cash in the form of foreigncurrencies, and smuggle the cash out of Bangladesh. They were doing it withoutdeclaring the amounts in the airport as well as without paying taxes.
The report said the whole schemeof Malawana remaining an anonymous shareholder of GSA Cargo Limited wasorchestrated, and assisted by one Helaluddin Akbar, Rezaur Rahman, and formerBNP MP, Abdul Mannan.
Both Rezaur Rahman, and Abdul Mannanare shareholders in Speed Mark Transportation (Bangladesh) Limited,representing Bengal Airlift Limited.
It is also alleged that RezaurRahman, Abdul Mannan, Helaluddin Akbar, and Mr. Malawana have repatriated theuntaxed profits of GSA Cargo Ltd via Speedmark Transportation (BD) Ltd, andAllport Ltd UK, respectively. Malawana has done the similar type of moneylaundering via PT Swift Kargonize, an Indonesian company representing EtihadCrystal Cargo in Indonesia.
According to a high official ofthe BB's money laundering cell the central bank don't have adequateinvestigation officials to conduct details investigation into the moneylaundering allegation.
Anti Corruption Commission (ACC)sources said they received the BB request and will soon open a file toinvestigation the matter.