Sources in the central bank said the intelligence men also collected documents of suspicious bank transactions and a list of cases filed under the Money Laundering Act.

As per the Money Laundering Act, the bank concerned is bound to notify the BB about any transaction over Tk 50 lakh.

"We have provided the intelligence men with last two years' bank transaction data as well as records of defaulted loans of Salman F Rahman," a BB official said.

"They have also collected information about other top 50 loan defaulters," he said.

Sources said the total amount of classified loans in the banking sector was Tk 20,000 crore as of December 2006. Besides, different banks have written off more than Tk 11,000 crore defaulted loans in the last three years.

"That means the volume of bad loans is over Tk 30,000 crore," a source said, adding that 60 percent of these bad loans were taken by 100 top defaulters.

Central bank sources said although the intelligence agencies did not explain the reasons for collecting information about the top loan defaulters and money laundering cases, it is assumed that the government will take action against these people.

"The caretaker government should make some exemplary instances by taking stern actions against some top loan defaulters when regular methods are unable to recover the money," one official said.

Meanwhile, the joint forces approached the Dhaka Stock Exchange recently for information about Salman Rahman's investment in the capital market.

They also requested the Office of the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies to release documents pertaining to the 12 companies owned by former BNP lawmaker Mosaddak Ali Falu, who too was detained recently.

The companies include private satellite television channels ntv and Rtv, Amar Desh Publications Ltd, Brotherhood Enterprise Ltd, Brotherhood Securities Ltd, Buildtrade Structures Ltd, Buildtrade Engineers Ltd, Dhaka-Shanghai Ceramics Ltd, MB Agroproducts Ltd, Daiper Ltd, IFIC Bank, and Shahabuddin Medical College Hospital.

Sources in the government said the intelligence agencies' communication with the stock exchange and the central bank is to frame criminal charges against the recently arrested politicians.

The government will also launch a fresh drive to detain others on the basis of financial crimes.