The Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has filed a case against Nur Ali, owner of Unique Eastern Private Limited, and 14 others over allegations of fraud and money laundering involving Tk 407.1 million in connection with sending workers to Malaysia.
According to a CID press release on Monday, the case was lodged at Gulshan Police Station under the Money Laundering Prevention Act.
Nur Ali, a prominent businessman and managing director of Unique Group, began his career in manpower export in the 1980s. Over the past four decades, he has expanded his business into various sectors including housing, energy, hospitality, hospitals, agriculture, education, finance, technology, and media.
The CID statement said that preliminary evidence indicates Nur Ali and the other 14 accused, identified as members of a manpower export syndicate, collectively defrauded Tk 407.14 million.
The allegations state that while sending workers to Malaysia, the accused collected extra money from each worker beyond the government-mandated fee. Between 2022 and 2024, they reportedly sent 3,787 workers abroad. Although the official government fee was set at Tk 78,990 per person, the accused allegedly charged each worker Tk 150,000.
The CID noted that additional fees were collected from victims for passports, COVID-19 testing, medical checks, and uniforms. “The 14-member network allegedly colluded to defraud Tk 407,140,370, which constitutes a clear offense under the Money Laundering Prevention Act 2012,” the statement added.
The case is currently under investigation by the Financial Crime Division of the CID.
