"We have developed rigorous policies and processes, combined with our industry-leading technology to combat any criminal behaviour. Meanwhile, BIGO Technology (BIGO) issued a statement saying that the company has a zero-tolerance policy against any criminal activity by any person or individual, regardless of whether or not the person is involved with any of the company's local agency partners. They further said that they will cooperate closely with the law enforcement agencies and the government for upholding regional and national laws and values.Thus, crores of taka are being siphoned off every month, Jamil added.ĬID officials said Saif and Asma are the Bangladesh based admins of Bigo Live Arif used to recruit young girls and have them join in the live streaming and Nazmul is one of the agents who sold "Bigo Live Diamonds" to users. Meanwhile in a statement yesterday, BIGO Technology, which has operations in 20 countries, including Bangladesh, said that they are conducting a thorough review on this case and will work with relevant law enforcement agencies in this regard. After investigation, another case may be filed under the Money Laundering Act. The CID official said a case was filed against the arrestees and 50-60 unnamed others under the Digital Security Act and Pornography Act with Paltan Police Station. The current "bean" exchange rate is 210 beans for US $1.īesides, someone can work on Bigo Live as an official host or recruiter and earn a decent commission on top of the virtual currency.ĭuring the drive, law enforcers seized eight mobile phones, four laptops, seven credit cards, six cheque books, and Tk 50,460 in cash. These beans can be encashed for real money, which the app deposits in the streamers' accounts. The more popular the streamer, the more beans they earn. The streamers, in turn, can stock up these gifts, which can be transformed into "beans". If someone is a popular streamer, the followers send her virtual gifts. The broadcaster can earn money after encashing the virtual gifts. These "diamonds" are digital currency that local agents buy from foreign admins through banks, MFS or hundi, they added. To join the live streams, its users have to top up "Bigo Live Diamonds" from their Bangladesh based agents. The Bangladeshi agents recruit five to seven young girls to "go live and lure men" during live streaming. To gain more followers and subsequently, more cash, a lot of broadcasters get a little raunchy. Both the apps are owned by Singapore-based BIGO Technology, which was founded in 2014 by David Li and Jason Hu.ĬID officials said that young Bangladeshis and expats are targeted by these agents.
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Saif and Asma also introduced themselves as Bigo employees.īigo Live is a live streaming platform and Likee is a short video-making and sharing app. In his LinkedIn profile, Jie Yao introduced himself as the country manager of Bigo Live in Bangladesh. On his mobile, the CID found a Whatsapp group, administered by Bigo Live officials in Bangladesh.ĬID said Saif was the Bangladeshi admin of Bigo Live, Arif used to recruit young girls and have them join in the live streaming, and Nazmul is one of the top agents who sold "Bigo Live Diamonds", a virtual currency, to users. They found a transaction of Tk 23 crore made through his mobile banking accounts. The official said that they first arrested Nazmul from his home in Kataban area. A CID official, wishing not to be named, told The Daily Star that Jie Yao, who lives in Gulshan area, himself collected most of the money in cash from the hosting agents.