Bangladesh Bank reserve heist probe report deferred again

The submission of the investigation report in the Bangladesh Bank reserve heist case has been deferred once again. The court has set September 14 as the new date for submitting the probe report.

Sunday, August 9, was the scheduled date for submitting the investigation report. However, as the investigating agency, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police, could not submit the report, the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Sefatullah in Dhaka set a new date. With this, the investigating agency has sought time for the 97th time in submitting the probe report in the case.

On February 5, 2016, $81 million was stolen from Bangladesh Bank's reserve through hacking from the US Federal Reserve Bank. Using SWIFT codes, a significant portion of the money was transferred to the Philippines.

Authorities believe hackers executed the plan to steal and launder the central bank's reserves with the assistance of a local network in Bangladesh.

In this connection, on March 15, 2016, Jobayer Bin Huda, a deputy director of Bangladesh Bank's Accounts and Budgeting Division, filed a case with Motijheel Police Station against unidentified individuals. The case was filed under Section 4 of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012 (Amendment 2015), along with Section 54 of the Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006 and Section 379 of the Penal Code.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is currently investigating the case. Despite the prolonged investigation, the agency has yet to submit its probe report to the court.