The Financial Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Saturday froze 35 bank accounts belonging to journalist Munni Saha, her husband Kabir Hossain, and their associated individuals and entities, with a total balance of Tk 181,653,739 (18 crore 16 lakh 53 thousand 739)

CID's Special Superintendent of Police (Media Wing) Jasim Uddin Khan said that Munni Saha and her husband allegedly exploited their profession to unlawfully exert influence and earn money through fraud and extortion.

The illegally earned funds were reportedly transacted through various bank accounts held under their names and those of their associates and affiliated organizations.

Acting on complaints, CID launched a money laundering investigation under the Money Laundering Prevention Rules, 2019, targeting Munni Saha and those with ties to her, said Jasim.

Preliminary investigation revealed that a total of 46 bank accounts had been opened under the names of Munni Saha, her husband, and related parties, of which 35 are currently active, he mentioned.

According to Jasim, suspicious transactions amounting to Tk 1,865,691,008 (over Tk 186 crore) were traced through these accounts over time, with a current balance of over Tk 18 crore.

Finding the transactions suspicious, the investigating officer sought a court order to freeze the accounts.

In response, the Senior Special Judge of the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court issued an order to freeze the 35 accounts, along with the funds currently held in them.

Following the court order, all 35 accounts and the Tk 181,653,739 held in them have been officially frozen, said the CID official.