In a major development, the once-prominent e-commerce platform E-orange has been implicated in laundering BDT 358 crore, as revealed by a recent report from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Among those accused are former Gulshan Police Inspector Sheikh Sohel Rana, who secretly managed E-orange while holding a government position, and several of his relatives.
The investigation found that between July 31, 2019, and August 17, 2021, E-orange defrauded over 315,000 customers, amassing BDT 957 crore by offering products like motorcycles, smartphones, and refrigerators at unrealistically low prices. Many customers, despite paying in advance, never received their goods, and a significant portion of the funds were funneled into money laundering schemes.
Twelve individuals, including key figures like Sohel Rana, his sister Soniya Mehjabin, her husband Masukur Rahman, and two brothers involved in RP Corporation, have been named in the charge sheet. Several businesses, including payment gateway company SSL and All Zone, are also implicated for their roles in facilitating these transactions.
With the charge sheet now submitted, there is hope that the legal process will soon begin, offering a chance for justice after nearly three years of investigation.
Professor Subarna Barua from Dhaka University’s International Business Department remarked, “Now that the charge sheet is submitted, we can hope for a swift trial and justice for the victims.”