Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – Dipu Moni, the former Social Welfare Minister of Bangladesh, was arrested today from the Baridhara DOHS area of the capital.
Following Dipu Moni's arrest, she was taken to the Detective Branch (DB) office in Minto Road, sources close to the DB of Dhaka Metropolitan Police confirmed.
Dipu Moni might be shown arrested in a case filed in Chandpur, the sources said.
"There is a case against her in Chandpur. It is not possible to say, as of yet, for which case exactly she has been arrested," the sources said seeking anonymity.
Earlier, on August 15, a case was filed in Chandpur against former minister Dipu Moni and her brother Dr JR Wadud Tipu for attacking the residence of Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik, the president of Chandpur district unit of BNP.
Moreover, 510 known and 1,000 to 1,200 unnamed people were also made accused in the case.
According to the case statements, armed individuals vandalised, looted, and torched the house of Manik on JM Sengupta Road in Chandpur.
Dr. Dipu Moni had been appointed as the Social Welfare Minister after a 37-member council of ministers was sworn in at Bangabhaban on January 11 of this year.
Meanwhile, in another development, Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) has ordered all banks to freeze the accounts of Dipu Moni, her husband Taufiq Nawaz and her brother Dr JR Wadud Tipu.
The BFIU has sent the directives to all banks in this regard on August 19.
At the same time, bank account transactions of the businesses owned by the trio have also been suspended.
DIPU MONI’S POLITICAL CAREER
Dipu Moni previously served as the minister of education in the fourth Hasina-led cabinet and as the minister of foreign affairs in the second Hasina-led cabinet.
Notably, Dr. Dipu Moni made history as Bangladesh's first female foreign minister when she assumed the role on January 6, 2009, following the Awami League-led grand alliance's victory in the December 29, 2008, general election.
She currently holds the position of Joint Secretary of the Bangladesh Awami League.
DIPU MONI’S ASSETS
According to affidavits submitted to the election office in December of 2023, the then education minister Dipu Moni's income has increased by a staggering 4,000 per cent in the last 15 years, since 2008,
Her movable assets, encompassing cash, savings certificates, and gold, have also seen a remarkable surge of around 59 times, the Business Standard reports in 2023.
While she had no debt in 2008, her current declaration reflects a debt amounting to Tk1.12 crore.
She became a Member of Parliament from Chandpur-3 in 2018.
Her profession, as mentioned in the poll's affidavit, includes doctor, public health expert, lawyer and politician.
According to the affidavit, Dipu Moni's professional income stood at Tk3 lakh annually, which escalated to Tk1.23 crore from three sources by 2023, the report added.
Her earnings encompass approximately Tk3 lakh from savings certificates, over Tk21 lakh as remuneration and allowance as a minister, and around Tk99 lakh as interests from deposits and gifts from family members.
In 2008, Dipu Moni's total movable assets were equivalent to Tk5 lakh, including Tk2.70 lakh in cash, a car valued at Tk1 lakh, 30-bhori of gold worth Tk1 lakh, and furniture valued at Tk30,000.
Presently, her immovable assets tally up to around Tk3.94 crore, with approximately Tk67 lakh in cash, Tk1.44 crore in savings certificates and similar investments, a car worth Tk60 lakh, gold and other metals valued at Tk9 lakh, some foreign currency, three apartments and 10-katha land
Notably, she did not possess any real estate in 2008.
BBN/AN/TA