DHAKA: Controversial Assistant Visa Officer of Pakistan High Commission to Dhaka Mohammad Mazhar Khan, along with his family, left Bangladesh by a PIA flight on January 31 (Saturday).

Foreign ministry sources told banglanews that Pakistan High Commission confirmed the matter to them through a letter on Sunday (February 1).

Wishing anonymity, an official of the ministry told banglanews, the government ordered to send back Mazhar to Pakistan after intelligence investigations revealed his militant connections, and money laundering and initiating fake currencies in Bangladesh.

Law enforcers caught him red-handed but later released on the interference of the Pakistani High Commission. In the, were revealed.

In the investigation reports, it was recommended for his quick expulsion from the country as well as gear up surveillance on the other Pakistani citizens living here.

The intelligence officials said that due to diplomatic relations the matters are being examined carefully. But it is difficult to examine the allegations against any diplomat. Mostly, due to diplomatic interference these things cannot be investigated properly.

Police and intelligence sources said that on last January 12 evening, in a raid, Mazhar Khan and another person, identified as Mujibur Rahman, were held from Banani Maitree market area in city. Mazhar Khan tore some papers at the moment police nabbed him.

After rearranging those pieces of paper, police found some passport numbers of Bangladeshis and some names. Before scrutinizing those, Pakistani High Commission’s First Secretary Samina Mahatab took him to her own custody from Banani police station.

However, later it was learnt that the recovered torn-out papers contained the names of three militant activists directly involved with banned Hijbut Tahirir.

During interrogation, another detainee Mujibur Rahman informed the law enforcers that he was introduced to Mazhar Khan by latter’s predecessor in the embassy.

He traveled to Pakistan for 22 times, 11 times to India and 22 times to Thailand in past decade, said Mujibur, adding “At the late, Mazhar had given him Indian fake currencies of 1.80 lakh to use in Bangladesh markets.”

Mujibur confessed to police that Mazhar is using persons namely Jahid, Imran and some others in his fake currency business.

The intelligence officials opined that Mazhar was playing the role of bringing a slide in the Bangladesh currency market. The officials became sure that Mazhar has connections with people of different professions in Bangladesh. These include retired army officers, police officers, teachers of universities including Dhaka University, officers of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), several businessmen and some citizens residing in border areas of Lalmonirhat, Jessore, Benapole and Thakurgaon.

The sources further said that on last January 15 customs intelligence officials detained Imran from Shahjalal International Airport with 80-lakh Indian currencies. Information was gathered that Imran made his entry in Bangladesh by fake passport and visa. Besides money laundering, some Pakistan High Commission officers are involved in patronizing militant organizations like Hijbut Tahirir and Ansarullah Bangla Team and also Jamaat-Shibir.

It is perceived that Mazhar Khan is working for last two years to implement the blue print of Pakistan’s intelligence agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and to facilitate this, he is patronizing the militants and Jamaat–Shibir activists in various ways.

It is learnt that under the veil of diplomatic identity Mazhar is also involved with sabotage in Bangladesh. He has been recommended for expulsion from this country.

Regarding the role of Pakistani citizens and high commission officers, the intelligence officials said that during last 4-party alliance government, the militant outfit JMB had set up a militant network across the country with the help some Pakistani citizens including some embassy officers. For the interest of diplomatic relations, the investigation could not make further headway.

The allegation of involvement of Pakistan embassy staff in financing the militant organizations is very old and rife. It is proved that they are involved in Indian fake currency racket, using Bangladesh as a transit. Lastly, it has created serious concern in the government.

The intelligence officials opined that the fake currency racketing is being carried out here by Shakil Mohammad, leader of Kashmir-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). A powerful network consisting of about 50 men are active in this country at the supervision of Shakil. This information was revealed from an arrestee Mohammad Alauddin, by city DB police.

Before the arrest of Alauddin from Ujirpur, one professor Selim was netted by the intelligence people. Only last year the intelligence department arrested 12 LeT members. Of them, three were Pakistani citizens and the others were working as agents in the country. About 10-crore of fake currencies of different countries were recovered from them. The intelligence officers claimed that many of the arrestees were released on bail and again became involved with the same business of fake currencies.

The activities of Ansarullah Bangla Team are going on in full swing here following the instructions of Bangladesh-born Ijaj Ahmed, who is staying in Pakistan. All decisions and directions are coming from Pakistan. On the other hand, the JMB activities here are being controlled from Karachi by former JMB amir (chief) Saidur’s daughter Nasrin Akhtar and her husband Jabed Akhtar.

On January 10 in 2014, Pakistani citizens Danish, Sabbir were arrested with 10-lakh fake Indian currency from a hotel of city’s Malibagh area along with Bangladeshi Fatema Akhtar Opi. After three days, another Bangladeshi, Jahid Hassan, was arrested with 50-thousand fake Indian currencies. On February 8, one Suman, a fake currency dealer, was arrested from Jatrabari of the capital with 90 thousands Saudi Riyal. On February 10, one Mannan Howladar was arrested from Gulistan area with fake 10 thousand Indian currencies.

On last March 15, in a raid in Boubazar area of Jatrabari, fake currency racketeers Rahim alias Badsha, Mehedi Hassan alias Babu and Rabeya Akhtar Sathi were arrested along with fake Indian currencies amounting to 3.50 lakh. A computer set and a money making dice were also recovered from their possession. Danish, who was arrested from a city hotel, later got freed on bail but now has become fugitive, police said.

The intelligence officials said that the active members of Pakistan-based international terrorist group members Abbas, Yunus and Monaem have been visiting Bangladesh occasionally and they are being helped by some Pakistan embassy officials. Several local agents are on surveillance of Bangladesh intelligence people.

The intelligence reports have been sent to Prime Minister’s Office, home and foreign affairs ministries, Bangladesh Bank, Passport Directorate and other concerned offices. The sources concerned informed the media that the home ministry has recommended to take urgent measures regarding the matter.

BDST: 0902 HRS, FEB 03, 2015