By Obaidur Rahman

DHAKA, Oct 14, 2025 (BSS) – With the changes of crime patterns at the advent of newer technologies, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of Bangladesh Police has adopted new tools and data-driven methods to make the force more effective and dynamic to deal with ever-changing crimes that include cybercrime and money laundering.     
Additional Inspector General of Police and Chief of the CID Md. Sibgat Ullah made the remarks in an exclusive interview with BSS at his Malibagh office in the capital on Tuesday.

 He also said the CID has been working to ensure a speedy and evidence-based probe system for reducing losses of the victims and bringing the criminals under the law.

BSS: How can commoners take help from CID? Is there any specific platform?

Sibgat Ullah: Although all the activities of CID are conducted to ensure the security and justice of the commoners, our working process is somewhat direct or indirect; which is usually conducted through courts, police stations and other organizations. 

However, various initiatives including setting up cyber police stations and victim support centers are being taken in near future to provide direct services at the doorsteps of the people.

Currently, there are some easy ways for citizens to get help from CID. In case of cyber crime, one can directly select the CID's cyber crime department by filing a GD online from home. After this, the receipt of the complaint is confirmed through a tracking number along with an acknowledgement of receipt.

The CID Cyber Police Center's verified digital channel, official website and verified social media platforms have contact information, which are open to citizens. Various mobile numbers have been provided to contact them to get direct legal assistance.

In addition, if a citizen feels that the matter raised by him needs to be brought to the attention of CID seriously, then he can send a letter by post to the CID chief, which is considered with due seriousness.
 
BSS: What significant changes have come in your leadership after joining CID?

Sibgat Ullah: I took charge as CID chief on May 12 last. Right after joining, the priority was to work for ensuring justice in the massacre of the anti-discrimination movement. Ten politically influential accused in these cases have been arrested by conducting raids in the capital and various districts. The CID is also working relentlessly to provide scientific evidence in the anti-discrimination movement cases.

In addition, effective steps were taken to recover money laundered from the country during the previous government. A treason case was filed against 73 people, including the fugitive Sheikh Hasina, and a charge sheet was submitted at the quickest possible time. As a result, the court has issued a travel ban on the accused so that they can’t leave the country.

We have achieved a historic success in the legal battle to bring back 81 million US dollars stolen from the Bangladesh Bank reserve through cyber fraud in 2016. In response to the CID's application, the court held the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) of the Philippines responsible for the crime of money laundering as a corporate entity and ordered the entire stolen money to be returned to the treasury of the Bangladesh government. This achievement is not only of the CID but also a symbol of Bangladesh's sovereign status and financial security.

Action has been taken against some former MPs, ministers and influential people. Among them, the bank accounts of Tk 87 crore of former law minister's girlfriend Taufiqa Karim and those associated with her have been frozen. A case has been filed under the Money Laundering Act against former land minister Saifuzzaman Chowdhury and his wife for laundering Tk 1,200 crore in Dubai. Former minister Golam Dastagir Gazi's 4,880 decimal land worth about Tk 400 crore has been attached.

In addition, the assets worth Tk 42 crore of BSB Global Networks chief Khairul Bashar Bahar have been attached and he has been arrested. The accused was arrested in a fraud case involving Tk 15 crore. A case has been filed under the Money Laundering Prevention Act for defrauding a US citizen and obtaining Tk 6.08 crore through hundi.

The chairman of Rangdhanu Group was accused of laundering Tk 330 and properties of the group including a luxury hotel worth about Tk 33 crore were attached. The assets of Tk 500 crore of Ruhul Amin (Swapon), the head of a syndicate involved in exporting manpower to Malaysia, have been attached. The managing director of Autumn Loop Apparels Limited, a subsidiary of Beximco Group, has been arrested on charges of smuggling Tk 340 crore abroad under the guise of internal trade.
 
The assets of drug dealer Shahin Alam worth about Tk 70 crore have been attached. The assets of about Tk 62 crore have been attached in the names of individuals and organizations with interests in e-commerce company Dhamaka Shopping. A total of Tk 18 crore has been frozen in 35 bank accounts of journalist Munni Saha and individuals and organizations associated with her.

The CID's forensic DNA lab has presented real evidence of its forensic capabilities to the people of the country by identifying the identities of five people who were killed in the plane crash at Milestone School and College.

All together, CID is now an efficient, technology-based and public welfare-oriented investigative agency that ensures the country’s financial and social security.

BSS: Currently, which type of crime investigation is CID paying the most attention to in Bangladesh?

Sibgat Ullah: CID is one of the oldest and specialized units of Bangladesh Police. Our investigation history is more than a hundred years. The CID investigates all the scheduled cases. 

Scheduled crimes include robbery, robbery on highways, railways or mail trains, murder, bank fraud, and trafficking of women and children by professional criminals. The CID can take over and investigate such crimes.

In addition, we investigate cases authorized to be investigated by special laws such as the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012. Currently, money laundering cases are filed based on the source of 29 related crimes. Out of these, CID works on 26 crimes, so that only CID can work on 18 types of related crimes. In addition, CID investigates more important cases at the court orders. 

We pay equal attention to investigating all cases. However, if you ask me whether I have a special interest, then I will say that I have to think a little more about financial crimes, human trafficking and cybercrimes.

By working on these, we can play a good role in saving the country's economy. If godfathers involved in crimes like money laundering are brought under the law, the rate of amassing illegal money will decrease in the future.

BSS: What kind of modern technology is CID using to investigate complex and high-profile cases?

Sibgat Ullah: Investigation is basically an art, where people have to do the main work with intelligence. Technology is playing a big role in the modern world. Therefore, CID uses various modern technologies in the investigation of complex and high-profile cases.
 
We have many important labs like DNA, chemical and forensics labs. In addition, work is done through device imaging, data recovery and crypto data tracing in investigations.

Work is done to identify criminals by analyzing their patterns and connections through profiling and link analysis.

Investigations are completed by collecting cloud-based information and data. In addition, technical measures are taken to find encrypted apps, informal transfers and mirrored transactions.

The CID is also using IP tracking and algorithm-based analysis. In addition, this technology is used in organized crimes through mobile network-based communication.

BSS: What is the biggest challenge in checking cybercrime? 

Sibgat Ullah: Cybercrime is currently a complex and multidimensional challenge, which is not only a technology-based crime but is also deeply related to the economy, family, social stability and national security.

Effective, modern and integrated digital policing system is essential against such fast and ever-changing threats. CID is conducting activities in this sector on the basis of three main things. For example, round-the-clock online patrolling is carried out and initiatives are taken to quickly identify and remove fake pages and fraudulent content through coordination with verified digital platforms. 

At the same time, awareness programs are being conducted at school, college and university levels to prepare the future generation about cyber risks. Cybercrime patterns are identified through data intelligence and analysis. 

For example, multiple mobile numbers in the same cycle, repeated links, or specific timeline-based activities. New threats are identified and tracked. The triage method ensures maximum use of golden hours. After the cybercrime is happened, a request is made to freeze transactions through banks or mobile money operators, immediate preservation notices are sent to social media companies and immediate coordination is made with other relevant agencies.

There are various advanced technology-based capabilities including digital forensics, device imaging, cloud-based evidence collection, crypto tracing, link charting and cyber profiling. If necessary, the support of teams and international partner organizations such as Interpol and NCMEC is taken for conducting field operations. 

The CID is regularly maintaining contact with banks, telecom, ISP regulators and international partners. Timely response capabilities are being built through technology transfer, skill-building training and joint efforts.
 
Considering the dynamics of cyber threats, CID has adopted a rapid and integrated approach. Our main goal is to ensure the digital security of citizens and bring criminals to justice.

 BSS: How does the CID ensure that impartiality and transparency are maintained in the investigation process?

Sibgat Ullah: The law guides us in ensuring transparency in the investigation of cases. The investigation officers of each case play an important role in this regard. However, if any complaint is received, we handle it with great seriousness and take necessary action. 

BSS: How are the forensic labs operated?

Sibgat Ullah: The forensic department of the CID has been playing an important role in conducting scientific investigation by examining evidences received from the courts and various investigative agencies. Forensic lab activities are being conducted in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi and Khulna divisions. 

Twelve specialized branches work under the forensic department. It provides expert opinions on physical evidence collected from various crime scenes, DNA analysis and preparation of reports, expert opinions on forged documents, examining and providing opinions on viscera and drug-related evidence, examining and providing opinions on digital crime-related evidence, providing forensic opinions on micro-analysis, photography and audio-videography. 
 
It also collects evidence through the crime scene management team, preserves fingerprints of the accused or criminals, provides training on forensics to members of the Bangladesh Police and other organizations, etc.
 
These activities are continuously strengthening the forensic skills of CID and its ability to investigate crimes using modern technology.
 
BSS: What are the CID's plans for the future in terms of technology, human resources or training?
 
Sibgat Ullah: CID has prepared for the future on three things which is technology, human resources and training. The main goal is to ensure speedy and evidence-based measures, reduce the losses of victims and bring criminals to justice.
 
Initiatives have been taken to allocate adequate budget for the purchase of hardware, software, monitoring tools and forensic equipment. Necessary steps are being taken to easily obtain information from various social media platforms including Facebook, TikTok, Google and Imo. 

There are plans to acquire AI-based triage and link analytics, deep face detection, suspicious transaction prediction and hotspot analysis capabilities. The plan includes mobile, cloud network, malware reversing and crypto tracing to build a cybercrime database and enhance the capabilities of modern forensic labs. 

Dark web monitoring, fast workflow of preservation notices and freezing requests, and the introduction of ACHO gateways and time-bound data sharing mechanisms with banks, telecoms, MFS, BTRC and regulatory agencies will enable effective decision-making in the first few hours.
 
Citizen-friendly reporting systems will be further enhanced; such as secure upload, case status tracking, separate reporting channels for women and children, multiplying support including Bengali and English.
 
Specialized roles such as Digital Forensic Analyst, Cloud Evidence Specialist, Malware Analyst, Threat Intelligence Analyst, Crypto Tracer, Open Source Investigator etc. are being created. A talent pipeline will be built through the introduction of internships and fellowships with universities and professional organizations. 
 
Retention and welfare plans include certification support, research and publication incentives, mental health support and rotational duty arrangements for high-risk cases. Case triage and escalation will be expedited by rotation from field to headquarters and strengthening of cyber desks at district level.

A curriculum is being introduced, with a foundational course for all and advanced module training for specialists. Hands-on lab training will be included for operations teams. The Golden Hour Protocol will be ensured through joint exercises, tabletop exercises and live drills with banks, MFS, telecoms and BTRC. 

Through organizing master classes with international partners, the capacity to deal with new threats including hybrid investment scams, online betting networks, ransomware will be acquired. In addition, there will be special training on electronic evidence presentation, forensic report writing and testimony preparation to ensure support in the prosecution and trial process.
 
In addition, in the legal framework, the CID believes that effective policing is impossible without timely laws to deal with technology-based and globally networked crimes. To this end, the initiatives to reform other laws including the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012 and the newly enacted Cyber Security Ordinance, 2025 are already being considered as commendable progress.