Tk 13 crore in transactions found in 24 bank accounts of life-sentenced drug dealer Jewel and his wife

Chapainawabganj drug dealer Jewel Rana, 34, is serving a life sentence in prison. Tracing where his drug money went and how he built his wealth has uncovered huge transactions. A Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) inquiry found 24 bank accounts in the names of Jewel and his wife Salma Jahan, 30, through which Tk 13,04,16,287 was transacted over the past eight years.

Investigators also found land, houses and other assets in the couple's names. The investigating officer, Rajshahi DNC Deputy Director Md Mehedi Hasan, has applied to court for permission to seize the couple's bank accounts and property, and said a charge sheet will be filed against both husband and wife after the investigation.

Officials said Jewel's 12 bank accounts saw transactions of Tk 6,18,03,317 over nine years — four current accounts, three mobile banking accounts and five savings accounts. His wife Salma Jahan's 12 accounts saw transactions of Tk 6,86,12,970 over eight years.

The DNC found six pieces of land including two houses in Jewel's name, with a deed value of Tk 1.03 crore, though officials believe their current market value could be several crore taka. Information also points to a petrol pump in Rajshahi's Godagari and two more houses in Dhaka, though details of those assets were not found in the preliminary inquiry. Five pieces of land in Salma Jahan's name have a deed value of Tk 22,06,000.

The investigating officer said Jewel has an income tax file, but no legitimate source was found for such large transactions in the accounts. The case statement alleges drug earnings were transacted through his wife's accounts and used to buy land in her name, and that Jewel opened accounts in his wife's name to move illegal money. Investigators say most of Jewel's wealth was built with heroin earnings.

Jewel Rana is the son of Amir Hossain of Fatapara Malbagdanga village in Charbagdanga Union of Chapainawabganj Sadar upazila. He was elected member of Ward No. 3 in the union parishad election held on January 5, 2022. His family currently lives in a house in the Belepukur neighbourhood of Chapainawabganj municipality.

According to the case statement, Jewel entered the drug trade as a teenager by carrying heroin from the border area for money, and later started the business himself. He brought heroin from India through border routes and supplied it wholesale across the country. He faces nine drug cases at various police stations, including Chapainawabganj Sadar Model, Mirpur, Paltan and Natore Sadar. He controls a large heroin syndicate in the Chapainawabganj and Rajshahi region.

On October 14, 2023, a DNC team raided Jewel's houses in Belepukur and Balubagan and arrested him with 950 grams of heroin and yaba. He was released on bail 28 days after his arrest. Local people allege he obtained bail at that time through the influence of former Chapainawabganj-3 MP Abdul Wadud. After leaving prison he went to Wadud's house, where the former MP welcomed him with a garland of flowers, as seen in photos that spread on social media at the time.

On October 12, 2025, the Chapainawabganj Additional District and Sessions Judge's Court sentenced Jewel Rana to rigorous life imprisonment in a drug case. He was absconding after the verdict. Last March he travelled to three other Middle Eastern countries after performing Umrah in Saudi Arabia. Police later arrested him on September 22 from the Lakshmipur area of Rajshahi city.

Local sources said that although Jewel is in prison, his associates are active in trying to secure his release on bail from the High Court. His drug network remains active, and in his absence family members are running the syndicate, the sources said.