The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against 13 individuals, including Grameen Telecom Chairman and Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, for their alleged involvement in embezzling over Tk 250 million.
ACC Deputy Director Md Gulshan Anwar Prodhan lodged the case with its integrated district office in Dhaka on Tuesday for misappropriating the funds of Grameen Telecom’s Workers Profit Participation Fund.
ACC Director General (Administration) Razwanur Rahman provided the information during a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters in the capital.
Earlier, the anti-graft watchdog received an allegation regarding the embezzlement of funds in Grameen Telecom’s Workers Profit Participation Fund, Rahman said. After conducting a thorough inquiry, the ACC found evidence of the involvement of all 13 accused, including Dr Yunus, in the embezzlement of the funds, he said.
Responding to a question from journalists about whether Dr Yunus was interrogated during the inquiry, Rahman said that the inquiry team diligently questioned all the accused individuals associated with the graft lawsuit in accordance with relevant laws.
The other accused are Md Nazmul Islam (50), managing director of Grameen Telecom; Md Ashraful Hasan (63), director and ex-managing director of Grameen Telecom; Parveen Mahmud (62), director of Grameen Telecom; Nazneen Sultana (61), director of Grameen Telecom; Md Shahjahan (65), director of Grameen Telecom; Nurjahan Begum (72), director of Grameen Telecom; S M Hajjatul Islam Latifi (62), director of Grameen Telecom; Advocate Md Yusuf Ali (42); Advocate Zafrul Hasan Sharif (47); Md Kamruzzaman (39), president of Grameen Telecom Sramik-Karmachari Union; Feroz Mahmud Hasan (43), general secretary of Grameen Telecom Sramik-Karmachari Union; and Md Mainul Islam (40), representative of Grameen Telecom Sramik-Karmachari Union.
According to the ACC, Grameen Telecom’s chairman, managing director, board members, Grameen Telecom’s Central Bargaining Agent (CBA) leaders, lawyers, and other individuals involved colluded with each other to misappropriate more than Tk 250 million from Grameen Telecom’s Workers Profit Participation Fund.
Thus, they committed an offence that is punishable under the relevant sections of the Penal Code, 1860, and the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.
ACC Deputy Director Md Gulshan Anwar Prodhan filed the case under Section 409/420/467/468/471/109 and Section 4(2) (3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.
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