Large amounts of illicit wealth of Transcom Group have been found in Dubai, UAE, using money from trafficking. Simin Rahman, the CEO of Transcom Group, and her son, Jaraif Ayat Hossain, the Head of Strategy and Transformation of the group, own luxurious apartments worth at least 19 crore taka. They also possess expensive cars. Investigations suggest that they have purchased significant assets in Dubai and other prestigious cities worldwide by laundering money from the country.
It has been found that Simin Rahman and her son's apartment is located in the prestigious Palm Jumeirah, a famous and luxurious artificial island in Dubai. Their apartment is situated in the opulent and highly expensive Crescent Road's Balkis Residence, worth 5.7 million dirhams, which is approximately 19 crore taka in Bangladeshi currency. The Bangladesh Bank has no information regarding their purchase of such luxurious assets abroad.
The Bangladesh Bank has authorized some local companies to make investments abroad, and according to the latest information, 17 companies have received this approval. However, Transcom Group is not on this list. The foreign assets owned by Simin Rahman and her son, Jaraif Ayat Hossain, are believed to have been purchased with illegal or laundered money.
It has been revealed that the Bangladesh Bank has made the process of sending money abroad easier for specific sectors, so companies can run their activities smoothly. Airlines and Information Technology (IT) companies are now allowed to make certain transactions without prior approval from Bangladesh Bank. However, Transcom Group has no businesses in these sectors.
An official from Bangladesh Bank, wishing to remain anonymous, stated that any Bangladeshi businessman or business group wishing to send money abroad must have approval from the Bangladesh Bank. Furthermore, if an individual spends more than 12,000 USD abroad in a year, they must be held accountable. The official added that Transcom Group has not obtained Bangladesh Bank's approval for any foreign investments, and the bank is unaware of the properties mentioned abroad. The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) and the Anti-Corruption Commission will investigate these foreign assets.
As per the Bangladesh Bank's guidelines, an individual can carry up to 12,000 USD annually for travel expenses abroad, either in one or multiple instances. There are also specific policies for sending foreign currency for medical and educational purposes, which require prior approval from the Bangladesh Bank.