Former lieutenant general Masud Uddin Chowdhury, a controversial figure in Bangladesh’s military and political history, has been arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) police in Dhaka. He faces multiple charges including human trafficking, embezzlement, and murder. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case accusing him of misappropriating Tk 119 crore from workers seeking employment in Malaysia. A Dhaka court has scheduled a hearing on April 9 to decide whether he will be shown arrested in the ACC case. He was previously remanded for five days in a separate human trafficking case.

Masud’s career spans from allegations of relief theft during the 1974 famine to senior military and diplomatic positions, including serving as Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Australia. He later entered business and politics, becoming a Member of Parliament from Feni-3 under the Jatiya Party. Authorities allege he built a vast financial network through illegal recruiting and money laundering operations involving thousands of migrant workers.

Investigators say the scale of his financial dealings and international links make the probe complex. Social media users have demanded a fair investigation and justice for victims defrauded in overseas employment schemes.