445 Bank Accounts Frozen in Major Online Fraud Crackdown

In a significant move against online gambling and digital fraud, the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Court has ordered the freezing of 445 bank accounts linked to 61 individuals and their associated organisations. The directive follows a comprehensive investigation into digital crimes, including online scams, illegal betting, and cryptocurrency-related offences.

According to court sources, the investigation revealed that Sheikh Md. Wazih Uddin, a former officer of City Bank, had fallen victim to an online scam, depositing approximately BDT 5,112,000 across five separate bank accounts. Further scrutiny uncovered that a network involving SM Junaidul Haque, Omar Heet Hitlu, Mehedi Hasan Talukdar, and 58 other individuals operated multiple accounts across various scheduled banks.

The investigation by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Cyber Police Centre identified a total of 595 accounts under the names of the 61 individuals and their affiliated entities. Analysis of the account activity revealed deposits totaling BDT 121.2 billion and withdrawals amounting to BDT 120.7 billion, indicating the large-scale financial operations underlying these digital crimes.

The CID’s review highlighted that these funds were primarily generated from:

Online fraud and scams

Online gaming and betting

Hawala (informal money transfer) operations

Digital currency and cryptocurrency trading

Tax evasion schemes

Police emphasised that immediate account freezing was essential to prevent the illicitly obtained funds from being transferred or laundered.

The order was issued on Monday, 9 March, following a formal petition submitted by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh. Additional Special Police Superintendent of the CID Cyber Police Centre, Suman Kumar Saha, had previously filed the application requesting judicial intervention. Court bench assistant Md. Riaz Hossain confirmed the execution of the order.

For clarity, the key figures are summarised below:

Authorities have stated that the ongoing investigation will continue to track financial flows and identify additional accounts or entities involved in these criminal activities. The crackdown is part of a broader initiative to tackle digital financial crimes in Bangladesh, signalling intensified law enforcement oversight in cyberspace.