AKM Zamir Uddin

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) of the government has sought the bank account details of 24 leaders of different organisations, including Hefajat-e-Islam and 30 madrasas.

The BFIU issued the notice on March 31, asking the banks to send the information within five working days.

The move came right after the recent mayhem by activists of Hefajat-e-Islam that killed 13 people since March 26.

Hefajat had been protesting the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi upon the invitation of the Bangladesh government to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the country’s independence.

Officials said the BFIU, the central financial intelligence agency, has taken the initiative to look into the sources of funds of the Islamist organisations.

“Banks have been asked to give details of all accounts belonging to the [specified] persons and madrasas as part of a BFIU investigation to detect whether they have been involved in money laundering and terrorist financing,” an official told The Daily Star yesterday.

Those named in BFIU report includes Hefajat-e-Islam Ameer Junayed Babunagari, Secretary General Nur Hossain Kasemi, Vice President Mahfuzul Haque, Finance Secretary Monir Hossain Kasemi, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish Ameer Moulana Islami Nurpori and Secretary General Mamunul Haque.

Mamunul is also the joint secretary general of Hefajat-e-Islam while Nur Hossain Kasemi had passed away in December last year.

The BFIU also asked the banks to submit account details of Islami Andolan Bangladesh Ameer Syed Mohammad Rezaul Karim, Secretary General Syed Faizul Karim and Bangladesh Imam and Musolli Oikya Parishad Secretary General at Demra Mahmudul Hasan Siraji.