[🇧🇩] Everything about Hasina's misrule/Laundered Money etc.

Date of Event: Nov 11, 2024

Source: https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/sheikh-hasina-was-a-classic-autocrat-m-sakhawat-hossain

Sheikh Hasina was a classic autocrat: M Sakhawat Hossain
Published :
Aug 05, 2024 22:03
Updated :
Aug 05, 2024 22:03

Sheikh Hasina was a classic autocrat who dismissed the people, and this disdain has led to her current predicament, according to Brigadier General (Retd) M. Sakhawat Hossain, an election analyst and former military officer. In a special interview with UNB news agency over the phone, he expressed these views.
He stated that today's events were inevitable and were bound to happen. "We have seen similar situations in Tunisia, Libya, and Syria. Popular uprisings are unstoppable. The student quota reform movement could have been resolved easily, but due to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's stubbornness, so many people lost their lives."

Hossain criticised the media's portrayal of the casualties, claiming that the true number is closer to 400, with a significant portion being students and young people. He questioned the whereabouts of the remaining bodies, mass graves, and the extent of innocent lives lost. "She has gone, but who will answer for this?" he asked.

He accused the ruling government of carrying out the "most heinous massacre" and of misleading the public by blaming criminals while those responsible were, in fact, their own countrymen. "Such things should not happen in a free country," he remarked.

Hossain also noted that for the past 15 years, people have been unable to vote properly, with widespread election fraud. He stated that Sheikh Hasina should have understood her and her party's unpopularity, and questioned who would be held accountable for the bloodshed. He criticized the severe lack of good governance, which he believes Sheikh Hasina failed to provide.

Furthermore, he alleged that Sheikh Hasina has created criminal gangs within the country and turned the police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) into her personal enforcers.

Reflecting on the plight of the family members of the so-called Father of the Nation, he questioned why they had to face such a tragic fate, attributing it to Hasina's arrogance and pride. He drew a parallel with the 2009 BDR mutiny, where 57 army officers were killed, and questioned who would answer for that incident as well.

He criticised Sheikh Hasina's control over TV media and her suppression of free speech, citing it as a reason he avoided talk shows. He claimed he had urged the Prime Minister in various meetings to ensure good governance, but was labelled as an 'agent of the opposition' for his criticisms.

"Today, Sheikh Hasina has fled the country, and now the army has had to take responsibility for the nation's situation," he concluded.​

 

[Saif]

Investigate Tk 3,859cr loan to Bashundhara 4 days before fall of Hasina govt: HC

The High Court on Sunday directed the authorities to investigate alleged irregularities in sanctioning a Tk 3,859 crore loan to Bashundhara Group four days before the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5 amid a student-led mass uprising.

www.newagebd.net

Investigate Tk 3,859cr loan to Bashundhara 4 days before fall of Hasina govt: HC
Staff Correspondent 03 November, 2024, 22:35

Front view of Supreme Court building in Dhaka. | File photo

The High Court on Sunday directed the authorities to investigate alleged irregularities in sanctioning a Tk 3,859 crore loan to Bashundhara Group four days before the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5 amid a student-led mass uprising.

A bench of Justice Mohammad Ullah and Justice Foyej Ahmed ordered the finance secretary, cabinet secretary, National Board of Revenue chairman, Bangladesh Bank governor, Anti-Corruption Commission chairman, and the head of the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit to submit a report on the investigation’s progress within four months.

The High Court passed the order responding to a public interest writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Sarwar Hossain. The petition cited a Prothom Alo report published on September 15 detailing the loan approval.

The report raised concerns about special loan facilities granted to Bashundhara Group in violation of banking norms.

Sarwar Hossain, representing himself, argued that former Bangladesh Bank governor Abdur Rouf Talukder along with the chairman of National Bank Limited’s board of directors, and its managing director, approved the loan, allegedly breaching banking rules and regulations.

The court wanted to know why the failure to investigate those involved in the loan sanction should not be declared illegal and why they should not face legal action.

The Prothom Alo report noted that Bangladesh Bank had deferred Bashundhara Group’s loan repayments for two years, with the group’s debt to National Bank amounting to Tk 3,859 crore, of which Tk 3,844 crore was the principal amount.

The loan amount reportedly exceeded the ceiling by eight times.

The Bank Company Act allows a maximum of 15 per cent of the bank’s paid-up capital, equivalent to Tk 482 crore, for a single borrower with an additional 10 per cent or Tk 321 crore as loan facilities.​

 

[Saif]

9 bank accounts of ex-home minister frozen

The Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Court issued an order on Tuesday asking to freeze nine bank accounts belonging to former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan.

www.newagebd.net

9 bank accounts of ex-home minister frozen
Staff Correspondent 06 November, 2024, 00:38

Asaduzzaman Khan.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Court issued an order on Tuesday asking to freeze nine bank accounts belonging to former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan.

Besides, the Anti-Corruption Commission on Tuesday filed two cases against eight people, including former deputy general manager AHM Gulam Kibria Khan of Bangladesh Krishi Bank, on charges of embezzling about Tk 70 crore.

Dhaka senior special judge Md Zakir Hossain ordered the seizure of the nine bank accounts of former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan following a petition filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Of the accounts, there are three bank accounts at Union Bank PLC, and at City Bank PLC each, one at Janata Bank PLC, at Shimanto Bank PLC, and at Sonali Bank PLC each.

A total of Tk 12.11 crore is currently deposited in the nine accounts.

On October 9, 2024, the ACC filed a case against Asaduzzaman Khan with its integrated district office in Dhaka on charges of amassing illegal wealth worth Tk 16.41 crore and suspicious transactions of Tk 55 crore at his eight bank accounts.

ACC deputy director Atikul Alam filed the two cases with its integrated district office in Chattogram, said ACC deputy director for public relations Aktarul Islam.

A case was filed against Krishi Bank’s DGM AHM Gulam Kibria Khan, M/S NA Corporation owner Mohammad Nurul Absar, senior principal officer Mohammad Hashem, former assistant general manager SKM Murshed, and former Patiya branch regional manager Md Iliyas.

According to the case, the accused, in collusion with each other, embezzled Tk 20.74 crore from the Sholashahar branch of Bangladesh Krishi Bank in the name of a loan through abusing power and forgery.

The other case was filed against M/S Rahman Trading owner Hefaztur Rahman, M/S Global International owner Mahabubul Alam Chowdhury, former DGM Gulan Kibria Khan, SK Murshed, and Md Iliyas.

The case statement said that the accused, in collusion with each other, took a Tk 48.97 crore loan from the Sholashahar branch of Bangladesh Krishi Bank through abusing power and embezzled the money.​

 

[Saif]

How could fugitive ex-Speaker submit biometrics for passport?

The question arises, if the passport employees got a trace of Shirin Sharmin then how come the police did not?

www.thedailystar.net

How could fugitive ex-Speaker submit biometrics for passport?

Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury. File photo

She is wanted in a murder case and police are looking for her.

However, former Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, from a hideout, has applied for a new general e-passport.

She also gave her biometrics to passport employees at the hideout.

The question arises, if the passport employees got a trace of Shirin Sharmin then how come the police did not?

Amid this, Md Mazid Ali, commissioner of the Rangpur Metropolitan Police, told The Daily Star today, "She is a fugitive accused in a murder case, and we are conducting drives to arrest her."

Asked whether police will interrogate the passport officials who took Sharmin's fingerprints, Mazid, without giving any direct answer, said, "The issue is under investigation."

The former Awami League MP of Rangpur-6 is an accused in a murder case filed over the death of a gold worker, Muslim Uddin in Rangpur, according to police.

On August 22, the government revoked the diplomatic (red) passports of the members of the now-defunct parliament, including the former prime minister, as well as her advisers and other officials who held such passports, after the fall of the AL regime in a mass uprising on August 5.

On October 3, the former Speaker along with her husband, Syed Ishtiaque Hossain, applied for a normal e-passport at the passport office in Dhaka's Agargaon.

They were supposed to submit their biometrics on October 10, which they allegedly gave to passport officials from their hideout.

Sources at the passport office alleged that in the application, the former Speaker mentioned that she was ill and "managed special arrangements".

However, from where Shirin Sharmin has given her biometrics remains a mystery as police sources claimed that she was not found at her Dhanmondi residence, which she mentioned as a present address in the passport application.

The rules of the e-passport application state that even if everything can be done at home, the applicant must go to the concerned passport office for biometrics on the scheduled date. Only sick and physically challenged people will be able to take advantage of this facility from home or hospital through the special service mobile team of the passport office.

When asked about whether an investigation was being conducted against passport officials responsible taking Sharmin's fingerprints from her hideout, Firoz Sarker, additional secretary (security and immigration wing), of the Security Services Division of the home ministry refused to comment saying, "I am not authorised to comment in this regard."

The information officer of the ministry can answer this, he said.

Faisal Hasan, senior information officer of the ministry, said he does not have any information in this regard and suggested communicating with the Department of Immigration and Passport (DIP).

The Daily Star reached out to Major General Md Nurul Anwar, director general of the DIP, but he did not receive the call.

However, in a press notification, the DIP today stated, "Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury does not have any active passport now. The diplomatic passport issued to her has already been revoked like all other diplomatic passports."

"Around one and a half months ago, she submitted the diplomatic passport and applied for a general passport. Applying for a new passport is a long process. A passport is only issued to a person after verification and analysis in different phases," reads the DIP notification.

The notification further added, "The application to get a new general passport in exchange for Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury's diplomatic passport is still in the primary stage. She did not get a new passport yet."

This newspaper also tried to communicate with Shirin Sharmin but no one picked up the calls.​

 

[Saif]

Pistol, ammo registered to ex-home boss Kamal found abandoned

Police today recovered a pistol, magazines, and 25 rounds of ammunition registered to former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, which were found abandoned near his residence in the capital's Monipuripara area

www.thedailystar.net

Pistol, ammo registered to ex-home boss Kamal found abandoned

Police today recovered a pistol, magazines, and 25 rounds of ammunition registered to former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, which were found abandoned near his residence in the capital's Monipuripara area.

A team from Tejgaon Police Station recovered the firearm on Tuesday, said Talebur Rahman, deputy commissioner (media) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

Tipped-off, they conducted a search and discovered an abandoned shopping bag between Houses #132 and 139 in Monipuripara. Upon searching the bag, they found one plastic gun case, one 32-caliber 7.62 mm pistol, two pistol magazines, 25 rounds of bullets, five cleaning kits, and a pistol licence.

Upon primary investigation and license verification, police said that the weapon belongs to former home minister Kamal.

In compliance with regulations, the recovered firearm and ammunition are now in the custody of Tejgaon Police Station, the police official said adding that legal proceedings were underway.

Kamal, also a former MP for Dhaka-12, faces multiple criminal charges, including murder. The ex-minister has been on the run since the fall of the Awami League government on August 5.​

 

[Saif]

Govt to tally Mujib Borsho celebration spending

The interim government has decided to prepare a report on the amount of money spent during the celebration of Mujib Borsho, marking the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

www.thedailystar.net

Govt to tally Mujib Borsho celebration spending

The interim government has decided to prepare a report on the amount of money spent during the celebration of Mujib Borsho, marking the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to the chief adviser, made the announcement at a press conference following a meeting.

The relevant ministries would compile lists detailing how and in which sectors funds were spent for the celebration.

"There were too many state-sponsored events centred around Mujib Borsho… several thousand crores of Taka were wasted in these celebrations. These are public funds…" Shafiqul Alam said, speaking at the Foreign Service Academy.

He also mentioned that many private companies were pressured into spending money. "Many were forced to set up Mujib Corners, and others were compelled to build sculptures of Mujib," he added.

The fallen government, led by Sheikh Hasina, celebrated Mujib Borsho to mark the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. They declared the year 2020-21 as Mujib Year. Initially, the government planned to celebrate the year from March 17, 2020, to December 16, 2021, but this was later extended by nine months, from 17 March 2021 to 16 December 2021, due to the Coivid-19 pandemic.​