[🇧🇩] Corruption Watch

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BFIU seeks bank account details of 12 journalists

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit has requested information on the bank accounts of 12 journalists within three working days.

www.thedailystar.net

BFIU seeks bank account details of 12 journalists

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit has requested information on the bank accounts of 12 journalists within three working days.

The BFIU has written to banks, asking for details of all the bank accounts held by the journalists.

The journalists include Subash Chandra Badal, former managing director of the Journalist Welfare Trust; Arifur Rahman Dolan of The Dhaka Post; Nurul Islam Hasib, special correspondent of Bangladesh Post; Dip Azad, chief news editor at Nagarik TV; Abul Kalam Azad, former chief editor of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha; Md Omor Faruque, deputy chief news editor of BSS; Zafar Wazed, former director general of the Press Institute of Bangladesh; Hossen Ara Mamata Islam Soma, special correspondent at Channel-i; Obaidul Kabir Molla, deputy editor of the Daily Janakantha; Abed Khan, editor of the Daily Jagaran; Ajoy Dasgupta, former deputy editor of the Daily Samakal; and Syed Ishtiaque Reza, chief editor of Global TV.

Banks and financial institutions have been instructed to provide relevant information or documents, including account opening forms, KYC details, and transaction statements, within three working days of receiving the letter from the BFIU.​

 

[Saif]

Address corruption in labour migration

The number of migrating workers from Bangladesh dropped this year.

www.thedailystar.net

Address corruption in labour migration
The government must diversify markets and upskill our workers

VISUAL: STAR

We are concerned about the decline in the number of our migrant workers going abroad this year, given the fact that remittance remains one of the major sources of foreign currency earnings for Bangladesh. According to a recent report by the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), labour exports from Bangladesh have dropped by 30.8 percent—from 1,305,453 in last year to 906,355 this year. What's worse is that the number of female migrant workers going abroad has gone down by 22 percent this year compared to last year.

According to the RMMRU report, persistent corruption, irregularities, and fraud have led to a contraction of foreign labour markets for Bangladesh. Italy and Serbia, for example, suspended labour recruitment from Bangladesh because some workers were found to have used fake documents. In Malaysia, a syndicate together with its Bangladeshi cohorts has embezzled $2 billion from Bangladeshi migrant workers by overcharging them, taking syndicate fees, and carrying out a "visa trade." As a result, many workers could not find the jobs they were promised in Malaysia and had to return home empty-handed, losing their life savings and being pushed into poverty in the process. Because of this, Malaysia shut down labour imports from Bangladesh in May this year.

The challenges facing labour migration must be faced with timely, effective actions. The government must take strict legal steps against those accused of embezzling migrant workers and conducting labour export through unlawful means. To this end, it must also engage with the authorities in the destination countries. Failure to ensure workers' safety and rights is another huge factor. The physical, mental and financial abuse that they face in the destination countries, compounded by our society's failure to reintegrate them, can be demotivating enough. If this issue is not addressed promptly, the number of migrant workers, especially women, is unlikely to rise. Proper diplomatic efforts are needed to ensure that countries recruiting Bangladeshi workers are committed to ensuring their rights and safety.

Finally, since our labour exports are still mostly in the low- and semi-skilled categories, we must invest into upskilling the migrant workers with various training so they can meet the global demands. This will help us expand and diversify the labour export market, as well as ensure steady remittance earnings.

Hence, we urge the authorities to prioritise resolving these issues and bring order in labour export, so that our migrant workers can go abroad without much worry, and continue to contribute to the economy.​

 

[Saif]

ACC moves to probe BB reserve heist

The Anti-Corruption Commission has initiated a move to probe corruption allegations in the $101 million cyber heist from Bangladesh Bank in 2016.

www.newagebd.net

ACC moves to probe BB reserve heist
Solamain Salman 31 December, 2024, 01:30

The Anti-Corruption Commission has initiated a move to probe corruption allegations in the $101 million cyber heist from Bangladesh Bank in 2016.

The commission’s scrutiny cell has already prepared a file and gathered necessary documents to launch an inquiry in the incident following the commission’s approval.

Confirming the move, an ACC director general on Monday told New Age that they would conduct an inquiry against those suspected in the reserve heist, including former Bangladesh Bank governor Atiur Rahman.

‘We got some specific information of corruption through media reports and ACC’s intelligence unit over the incident,’ said the official, adding that the formal probe would start within a couple of days after the commission’s approval.

In February 2016, international hackers stole $101 million from the central bank’s account with the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States through fraudulent instructions. Investigations revealed that the hackers targeted to steal about $1 billion from the central bank.

Bangladesh has so far recovered around $18 million of the $81 million transferred to the Philippines. It was later suspected that Dridex malware was used for the attack.

After 39 days of the incident, on March 15, 2016, Bangladesh Bank deputy director Zubair Bin Huda filed a case with the Motijheel police against unidentified people under the Money Laundering Prevention Act.

Later, the Criminal Investigation Department was tasked with the investigation, but it failed to complete the probe till now.

The Dhaka chief metropolitan magistrate court fixed 79 dates so far asking the CID to submit its probe report but it failed to do so.

Contacted, CID special superintendent and its spokesperson Azad Rahman told New Age that the investigation was still going on.

‘We sent mutual legal assistance requests to different countries seeking information, and we will submit the probe report before the court after getting a reply to these requests,’ he added.

CID officials involved with the investigation, meanwhile, said that they identified negligence of 12 high officials, including the then governor, Atiur Rahman, with the heist.

The hackers succeeded in stealing the money from the reserve because of the negligence in ensuring the security of the bank’s Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication system, they said.

The officials whose involvement in the heist has so far been found in the ongoing probe were at the time of the incident an executive director; a general manager; four joint directors; three deputy general managers; and two other officers.

Of these officials, except for the executive director, the remaining officials were posted at the time at the forex reserve and treasury management department, accounts and budgeting department, IT operation and communication department, payment system department, and back office of the dealings room.

They provided the hackers opportunity in different ways, said the CID officials, mentioning that the central bank’s forex reserve SWIFT server was a sensitive system. Despite that, then governor Atiur Rahman approved the connection of Real Time Grace Settlement (RTGS) through the SWIFT and ensured its implementation.

The investigators identified this as a criminal move. RTGS is a specialised fund transfer system through which funds can be transferred from one bank to another instantly.

CID officials also said then deputy governor Abdul Kashem was against providing RTGS service through the SWIFT leading governor Atiur himself to sign the file for providing the RTGS service.

It also reported that then executive director Shuvongkor Saha had a role in the decision making in linking the RTGS with the SWIFT server which disrupted the security of the SWIFT server.

The investigators believe that the $101 million heist happened through the gaps created in the system.

CID officials also named 76 persons from eight countries—US, India, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Japan, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong—for their suspected involvement in the reserve heist.​

 

[Saif]

ACC seeks info on dual citizenship of govt employees

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has asked agencies to provide information regarding dual citizenship held by some government employees

www.thedailystar.net

ACC seeks info on dual citizenship of govt employees

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has asked agencies to provide information regarding dual citizenship held by some government employees.

ACC Director General (Prevention) Md. Akhtar Hossain confirmed the development at a press briefing yesterday.

In this regard, the ACC sent letters to the Department of Immigration and Passports, the Special Branch of Bangladesh Police, and the Security Services Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In the letters, the ACC mentioned that it has recently observed that some corrupt government employees have obtained and used foreign passports, but they have concealed the information.

"They are using passports from different countries to avoid punishment or legal action in the ongoing anti-corruption campaign. These individuals are attempting to protect themselves from legal consequences and cover up their misdeeds," the letter said.

The ACC also said some employees have both Bangladeshi and foreign citizenships, which is a violation of Section 40 of the Public Service Act, 2018.

The ACC Director General explained that investigations have revealed that the main purpose behind obtaining multiple passports is to conceal illegally acquired assets and smuggle them abroad.

"Their activities contribute to the spread of corruption and harm the country's economy. Furthermore, after obtaining foreign citizenship, there is often a noticeable lack of interest in the moral responsibilities of their government positions in Bangladesh, which is unacceptable," he said.​

 

[Saif]

ACC to be independent but accountable to people: Iftekharuzzaman

The masses, anti-graft professionals, and former and serving Anti-Corruption Commission officials have emphasised transparent and accountable appointment processes for ACC officials and the need to free the ACC from bureaucratic and political control...

www.newagebd.net

ACC to be independent but accountable to people: Iftekharuzzaman
Sadiqur Rahman 02 January, 2025, 00:00

Iftekharuzzaman

The masses, anti-graft professionals, and former and serving Anti-Corruption Commission officials have emphasised transparent and accountable appointment processes for ACC officials and the need to free the ACC from bureaucratic and political control.

Taking part in the ACC reform initiative, they also have stressed the importance of empowering the ACC’s human resources at both national and local levels, so that officials of the anti-graft body must feel a sense of responsibility and authority to act in the public interests, said the ACC Reform Commission chief, Iftekharuzzaman, in a recent interview with New Age.

Taking the key stakeholders’ feedback into consideration, the commission is going to recommend a strong collaboration among relevant organisations, such as the ACC, Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit, National Board of Revenue, Criminal Investigation Department and Attorney General’s Office.

‘The collaboration among some state organs is crucial to tackling high-level corruption, including money laundering,’ said Iftekharuzzaman, also the executive director at the anti-graft watchdog Transparency International Bangladesh.

He added that strengthening prosecution and forensic investigation by the ACC would also be recommended.

The ACC Reform Commission was formed on October 3, 2024 and has been assigned to submit a report to the chief adviser by January 7, 2025.

Explaining the necessity of the ACC reform, Iftekharuzzaman recalled that the ACC was established in 2004 with high expectations, replacing the Anti-Corruption Bureau, which was attached to the office of the head of government.

The bureau was widely regarded as ineffective, inefficient and politically misused.

‘We had hoped the ACC would function as an independent body, free from political interference. People’s expectation was that it would not only tackle corruption by non-state actors but also ensure justice for individuals challenging those in power. Unfortunately, this vision has not been materialised,’ he said.

He said that the ACC law and institutional framework introduced at the anti-graft body’s inception were considered robust, the effectiveness of the anti-graft commission had been compromised over time.

‘From the outset, political bias tainted the ACC. Its leaders, including chairpersons and commissioners, were appointed based on partisan considerations. Additionally, the key positions were filled by individuals from the bureaucracy, further establishing political and bureaucratic control over the ACC,’ he said while explaining how the ACC had been made toothless against political influences.

He believes that the lack of independence of the body has had serious consequences.

‘The ACC has consistently failed to act against those in power and their associates. Conversely, it has been weaponised to target opposition figures or individuals who have fallen out of favour with the ruling party. Instead of combating corruption, it has shielded the corrupt and harassed others,’ he said.

Iftekharuzzaman pointed out that the ACC’s dysfunctionality has persisted since its establishment.

‘Corruption has become a hallmark of authoritarian governance in Bangladesh over the past 16 years,’ he observed, adding that institutions like the ACC were captured to protect and promote corruption rather than check it, enabling a system of impunity for those in power.

Reflecting on public discontents, Iftekharuzzaman highlighted the role of corruption in exacerbating inequality.

‘Corruption affects everyone, but particularly those who are in disadvantaged positions. It manifests as a collusion among bureaucracy, politics and business to divert resources meant for the public welfare to private hands. This leads to widespread money laundering,’ he added.

Citing TIB studies, he said that corruption disproportionately impacted the rural poor and widened the gap between the rich and the poor, further entrenching discrimination which, among other reasons, led to the 2024 July uprising.

Asked about the potential for the ACC to function independently, Iftekharuzzaman emphasised the need for leaders with professional integrity, ethics and courage to act impartially. ‘Currently, the ACC operates as a government body, influenced by political and bureaucratic interests. Leaders forget their mandate to hold the government accountable,’ he said.

The reform commission chief called for mechanisms to hold the ACC accountable.

‘Currently, the ACC submits annual reports to the president, which are rarely acted upon. This must change. Regular evaluations of the ACC’s performance are necessary to ensure accountability,’ he observed.

Talking about public opinions on the reform, Iftekharuzzaman said that the ACC’s ineffectiveness had eroded the public trust in the institution.

‘People understand the ACC’s role, but are deeply frustrated by its failure to deliver. A TIB study found that only 0.6 per cent of respondents reported corruption through the ACC’s hotline. This reflects a loss of confidence in the commission,’ he said.

He also noted a troubling societal shift in attitudes towards corruption. ‘There was a time when corrupt individuals were despised. Now, they are often celebrated and hold prominent positions in social and cultural institutions,’ he said.

Policies like allowing the legalisation of undisclosed money and appointing loan defaulters as policymakers have normalised corruption in society, he mentioned.

To address these challenges, Iftekharuzzaman outlined recommendations gathered from various stakeholders. ‘There is internal dissatisfaction within the ACC itself. Many employees want the leadership to be non-partisan, courageous and capable of tackling high-level corruption. They want stolen resources repatriated and the system reformed,’ he said.

Iftekharuzzaman emphasised that reforming the ACC is vital not just to hold individuals accountable but to create a society where corruption is not tolerated.

‘Public awareness, particularly among youth, is essential to building a culture that stands against corruption. The ACC must lead this campaign. Only then it can fulfil its mandate and restore the public trust,’ he said.​

 

[Saif]

undefined | The Financial Express

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

ACC starts investigation against its former commissioner Jahurul Haque
Published :
Jan 02, 2025 00:02
Updated :
Jan 02, 2025 00:02

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation into its former commissioner, Jahurul Haque, over alleged irregularities in acquiring RAJUK plots, money laundering, and unlawfully amassing assets beyond his known income.

ACC Director General Md Akhtar Hossain said on Wednesday that the commission has decided to probe the allegations against Jahurul Haque.

A three-member committee has been formed to carry out the investigation, he added.

The committee, led by ACC Director SMM Akhter Hamid Bhuiyan, also includes Assistant Director Minhaj Bin Islam and Deputy Assistant Director Md Zakir Hossain, according to a UNB report.

The ACC has directed the investigative committee to follow due process and submit its findings within the stipulated time frame.

The commission has also instructed the committee to notify the relevant ACC office in writing if any of his bank accounts are frozen or properties seized during the course of the investigation.

The complaint filed against Jahurul Haque accuses him of abusing his power to receive bribes from individuals involved in cases under investigation by the ACC.

Additionally, Jahurul is alleged to have fraudulently obtained five plots from Rajuk (Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha) in the names of his wife and himself.

Furthermore, he is accused of taking bribes of hundreds of crores of taka from major telecom companies during his tenure as chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), laundering the money abroad, and accumulating undeclared assets, including multiple properties overseas.

Meanwhile, the home ministry has imposed a travel ban on him.​