BB reserve heist: Probe report after foreign countries give info

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police would submit the investigation report in a case lodged over the Bangladesh Bank reserve heist after receiving information from three to four countries.

“We are sincerely investigating the reserve theft case,” CID chief Mohammad Ali Mia told a press conference at the CID headquarters in Dhaka’s Malibagh on Thursday.

“Seeking information, we have written letters to three-four countries that are linked to the theft of reserves. If we get information from there, we will submit the report as soon as possible,” he added.

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Hackers stole $101 million from Bangladesh Bank’s account with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York in February 2016.

Of the stolen amount, $81 million was transferred to four accounts with Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) in Manila, the Philippines, and $20 million to a bank in Sri Lanka.

But the transfer of $20 million to Sri Lanka failed because of a spelling error by the hackers. Later, the central bank was able to retrieve about $15 million from the Philippines.

On March 15, 2016, Bangladesh Bank Deputy Director (accounts and budgeting) Zobayer Bin Huda filed a case with Motijheel police station in this connection under the Money Laundering Act, Information and Communication Technology Act, and the Penal Code.