ACC writes to CAO seeking documents

Padma Bridge corruption case against her to be reinvestigated

FE Team | Published: December 25, 2024 00:21:02

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday decided to reinvestigate the Padma Bridge and Bangabandhu Novo Theater corruption cases against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, report agencies.
The ACC also sought documents related to eight mega projects as part of an investigation into alleged corruption and irregularities involving former prime minister.
According to ACC officials, a letter was sent to the Chief Advisor's Office requesting information about the alleged misuse of power, forgery, irregularities, and corruption amounting to Tk 210 billion across eight projects.
The letter specifically asked for all documents, reports of prior investigations, and summary reports related to the project periods.
The projects include the Mirsarai Economic Zone, Khurushkul Special Ashrayan Project, Mirsarai BEPZA Economic Zone, the Water Treatment Plant and Deep Tube Well Installation at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Industrial City, the Indian Economic Zone at Mirsarai, and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Industrial City Development Project.
Meanwhile, the ACC has also written to the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) to gather detailed records of domestic and foreign financial transactions of Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and Rehana's daughter, British minister Tulip Siddique.
The ACC's letter requested comprehensive information on all bank accounts, including offshore accounts, operated by the aforementioned individuals.
Additionally, the investigation team has requested personal documents from the Election Commission and the Immigration and Passport Office, with plans to approach other government and private institutions for relevant records.
Earlier, on December 18, the ACC formed a five-member investigation team to probe corruption allegations against Sheikh Hasina and her family members. The team is led by ACC Deputy Director Md. Salahuddin and includes Deputy Director Md. Saiduzzaman, Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya, S.M. Rashedul Hasan, and AKM Mortuza Ali Sagar.
The team's mandate includes investigating allegations of corruption involving Tk 210 billion across eight special priority projects of the previous Awami League government and Tk 590 billion linked to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project. Additionally, the ACC has initiated a separate investigation into the alleged siphoning of $300 million by Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
On August 5, Sheikh Hasina fled to India amid a student-led mass movement that ended 15 years of Awami League rule.
She was accompanied by her sister, Sheikh Rehana. Hasina's son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, resides in the United States, where he served as her Information Technology Advisor for an extended period.
Rehana's daughter, Tulip Siddique, is a Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom and currently serves as the Economic Secretary to the Treasury under the Labour Party government.