Bid to Show General Masud Arrested

A fresh legal move has been initiated to formally show retired Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury arrested in a high-profile corruption case involving the alleged embezzlement of Tk 1.19 billion through overseas recruitment to Malaysia. The case, brought by Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), has intensified scrutiny over irregularities in the manpower export sector.

On Wednesday, 25 March, the investigating officer, ACC Assistant Director Abul Kalam Azad, submitted the petition before the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s Court, presided over by acting judge Moinuddin Chowdhury. The application seeks to show Masud formally arrested in connection with the ongoing investigation. According to another ACC official, Assistant Director Aminul Islam, the court has scheduled a hearing for 9 April, when the accused is expected to be present.

Masud Uddin Chowdhury, a former Member of Parliament from the Feni-3 constituency and a widely discussed military figure during the 2007–08 caretaker government period, is also the Managing Director of Five M International, a recruiting agency at the centre of the allegations. The ACC filed the case on 11 March, accusing Masud and several associates of orchestrating financial irregularities and misappropriating large sums under the guise of sending workers abroad.

The case is part of a broader effort by authorities to clamp down on corruption in the overseas employment sector, which has long been vulnerable to malpractice, including excessive fees, fraudulent documentation, and exploitation of migrant workers.

Earlier this week, in the early hours of Monday night, Masud was detained by the Detective Branch (DB) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police from his residence in Baridhara DOHS. The following day, he was shown arrested in a separate human trafficking case filed with Paltan Police Station. Acting on a police request, the court granted a five-day remand to facilitate further interrogation.

Law enforcement agencies have indicated that Masud faces multiple legal challenges. The Detective Branch has identified at least 11 cases filed against him, spanning allegations from corruption to human trafficking. Investigators believe these cases may be interconnected, pointing to a wider network of illicit activities.

The developments mark a significant escalation in legal proceedings against the former general, as authorities continue to pursue accountability in cases involving large-scale financial misconduct.

Case Overview

As the investigation progresses, the case is expected to shed further light on systemic irregularities within recruitment practices and the accountability of influential figures involved in such operations.