A Dhaka tribunal on Monday took cognisance of charges against Monir Hossain, also known as ‘Golden Monir’ in a case filed over possessing arms at his residence in the capital’s Merul Badda area.
The tribunal also fixed March 13 for the indictment hearing on the charges against Monir Hossain in this case.
After scrutinising the case dockets and other relevant documents, Judge KM Emrul Kayesh of the Special Tribunal-1 of Dhaka passed the order in this regard.
Earlier on January 26, the Detective Branch (DB) of police submitted two separate charge-sheets against Monir Hossain, in connection with two cases filed under the Arms Act and the Narcotics Control Act.
Abdul Malek, an investigation officer of DB police submitted the charge-sheets before the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Court on January 26.
Earlier on December 3 last year, a Dhaka court placed Monir Hossain on 9 days of fresh remand in three cases under the Arms Act, the Special Powers Act and the Narcotics Control Act.
Monir Hossain was arrested from his Dhaka residence on November 21, 2020, over possession of illegal firearms, foreign currencies and drugs.
Monir Hossain, a gold and hundi trader and land broker, has alleged involvement in gold smuggling and owner of a car showroom.
Earlier on November 20 last year, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) recovered foreign currencies of 10 countries worth 9 lakh taka, around 600 tolas of gold, weighing 8 kg, and 1.9 crore taka cash from Monir’s possession raiding his six-storey residence in Badda. He was arrested the next day.
Earlier RAB’s Legal and Media wing chief Lt Col Ashik Billah said “In the 90s, Monir was a salesman at a shop at Gausia Market. He later started cookeries and luggage business. He used to import goods from different countries dodging taxes. He also got involved in gold smuggling from Dhaka-Singapore and Bangladesh-India routes.”
Monir has 200 plots in his name in Badda, Nikunja, Uttara and Keraniganj, and used a luxurious car worth 3 crore taka, he said, adding that all the information was revealed during a preliminary investigation by the detectives.
The RAB chief said a case was filed against Monir under the Special Powers Act in 2007 and he was identified as a ‘land robber’ as he occupied many land plots allegedly in collusion with a section of Rajuk employees.
The total amount of his wealth is approximately 1,050 crore taka, said the RAB Media wing chief.
nh/teb
