Proshanta Kumar Halder. File photo

The Anti-Corruption Commission has filed five cases against 33 people, including former NRB Global Bank managing director PK Halder, for allegedly laundering over Tk 350 crore of International Leasing and Financial Services Limited (ILFSL).

ACC Deputy Director Gulshan Anowar Prodhan filed the cases in the last two days.

Briefing reporters at the ACC's Segunbagicha headquarters yesterday, its Secretary Md Anwar Hossain Howlader said they have already arrested the former chairman of People's Leasing and Financial Services Limited (PLFSL), Uzzal Nandi, and former ILFSL MD Rashedul Haque in connection with the cases.

He said Tk 70.82 crore loan was sanctioned to Anan Chemical, Tk 69.80 crore to Sudakha Properties, Tk 66.98 crore to Borno, Tk 54.55 crore to Rahman Chemicals and Tk 83.84 crore to Moon Enterprise.

These organisations produced fake documents and the officials of ILFSL in connivance with others granted the loans misusing their power, the ACC secretary added.

The Daily Star has obtained a copy of the FIR of one of the cases.

According to the case statement, managing director of Anan Chemical, Amitav Adhikari, and its four directors applied to then ILFSL MD Rashedul for a term loan of Tk 29 crore on October 14, 2015.

ILFSL assistant manager Rafikul Islam had prepared the loan proposal without scrutiny. Senior manager Rafsan Riad Chowhdury of the non-banking financial institution (NBFI) examined the proposal and its assistant vice president Al Mamun Sohel forwarded it.

The comany's Head of Business Nahida Runai recommended sanctioning the loan. To put up the loan proposal before the board meeting, approval of then ILFSL MD was needed and Rashedul gave the nod, reads the FIR.

On October 25, 2015, the loan was sanctioned as per the approval of ILFSL directors Nasim Anowar, Basudev Banarjee, MA Hashem and Mizanur Rahman.

Similarly, Amitav applied to ILFSL for a working capital and business expansion loan of Tk 31 crore on June 2, 2016. The loan was sanctioned at the 191th board meeting on June 11 that year.

Another Tk 5 crore was sanctioned on March 30, 2017 and Tk 36.81 crore on December 24, 2018.

Of the sanctioned amount of Tk 101 crore, about Tk 70.82 crore was disbursed, the ACC enquiry found.

According to the FIR, Halder helped Anan Chemicals avail the loans.

Halder, now staying in Toronto, is the director of P&L Hal Holding Inc, a Canadian corporation, according to Canadian media reports.

He came to the limelight during the anti-casino drives in the country in 2019. The ACC had launched an investigation into the involvement of 43 people, including Halder, in the illegal casino business.

The graft watchdog on January 8 last year filed a case against Halder over amassing wealth worth Tk 275 crore illegally.

Several enquiries into embezzlement of crores of taka of four NBFIs by Halder are pending with the ACC.