ACC starts probe against Grameen Telecom board of directors

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has initiated an investigation against the board of directors of Grameen Telecom on allegations of embezzling the welfare funds of the employees and laundering around Tk 30 billion.

ACC Secretary Md Mahbub Hossain during a press conference at its office in Dhaka on Thursday said deputy inspector general of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments under the labour ministry filed a report against the board of directors of the telecom company.

The report brought forth a number of allegations that include embezzling 5.0 per cent of the money allotted for employees, illegally deducting advocate fees and other fees from the salary of workers, amassing more than Tk 455.2 million from welfare funds for workers and employees, and laundering Tk 29.77 billion from the company.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Professor Muhammad Yunus is the chairman of the Grameen Telecom board.

ACC Secretary Mahbub said the money was allegedly embezzled through transferring to other affiliated companies of Grameen Telecom.

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