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

G Bangladesh Defense
[🇧🇩] Everything about Hasina's misrule/Laundered Money etc.
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Short Summary: Various misdeeds of Hasina regime

UK PM faces pressure to sack Tulip Siddiq
Agence France-Presse . London 13 January, 2025, 21:17

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Tulip Siddiq | BSS file photo

UK prime minister Keir Starmer faced fresh pressure Monday to sack his anti-corruption minister Tulip Siddiq, amid accusations over her family ties to Bangladesh’s toppled premier.

Siddiq has been dogged by claims about her links to her aunt Sheikh Hasina, who fled Bangladesh last August after a student-led uprising against her decades-spanning tenure as prime minister.

Earlier this month, the UK minister referred herself to Starmer’s standards adviser, following a flurry of allegations, including that she lived in properties linked to her aunt and the Awami League party Hasina led.

Siddiq has insisted that she has done nothing wrong.

Asked on Monday whether Siddiq’s position in the UK government remained tenable, senior British minister Pat McFadden told Sky News she had ‘done the right thing’ with the self-referral.

He insisted the standards adviser had the powers to ‘carry out investigations into allegations like this’.

‘That is what he is doing, and that is the right way to deal with this,’ McFadden said.

But UK opposition politicians want Siddiq fired.

‘I think it’s untenable for her to carry out her role,’ the Conservatives’ finance spokesman Mel Stride told Times Radio on Sunday.

‘It’s inappropriate for Tulip to be in the position that she holds at the moment. She is the anti-corruption minister in government,’ he said.

In December Siddiq emerged as a named target of a probe by Bangladesh’s anti-corruption commission into the alleged embezzlement by Hasina’s family of $5 billion connected to a Russian-funded nuclear power plant.

Money laundering investigators there have since ordered the country’s big banks to hand over details of transactions relating to Siddiq as part of the probe.

Siddiq is an MP for a north London seat who is part of the finance ministry and responsible for the UK’s financial services sector as well as anti-corruption measures.

Over the weekend, a Sunday Times investigation revealed details about the claims that Siddiq spent years living in a London flat bought by an offshore company connected to two Bangladeshi businessmen.

The flat was eventually transferred as a gift to a Bangladeshi barrister with links to Hasina, her family and her ousted government, according to the newspaper.

It also reported Siddiq and her family were given or used several other London properties bought by members or associates of the Awami League party.

Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Prize-winning microfinance pioneer who heads a caretaker government, demanded a detailed probe in light of the allegations.

He told the newspaper the properties could be linked to wider corruption claims against Hasina’s toppled government, which he said amounted to the ‘plain robbery’ of billions of dollars from Bangladesh’s coffers.​
 

Tulip resigns as UK minister
Starmer accepts, leaves door open for her return

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Tulip Siddiq, British treasury minister, resigned yesterday after repeated questions about her financial links to the ousted Bangladeshi government run by her aunt Sheikh Hasina.

In a letter to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Tulip, 42, repeated she had done nothing wrong but said continuing in office would likely "be a distraction from the work of the government".

Tulip, whose ministerial role included tackling corruption in UK financial markets, said she had fully declared all her financial interests and relationships.

Earlier this month, she had referred herself to Laurie Magnus, Starmer's adviser on ministerial standards, after it emerged she had lived in multiple properties associated with people with links to Sheikh Hasina.

Tulip was not found to have broken any rules by Magnus, reports The Guardian.

Labour MP Emma Reynolds has been appointed the new Economic Secretary to the Treasury.

Hasina fled after being deposed as Bangladeshi PM on August 5.

Tulip was under pressure over her occupancy of the properties, including a two-bedroom flat near King's Cross in central London and a separate home in Hampstead.

Besides, Bangladesh's Anti-Corruption Commission has launched multiple probes into the alleged corruption of Hasina and her family members, including Tulip.

Tulip is one of those named in the commission's investigation into accusations of embezzlement of $5 billion connected to a Russian-funded nuclear power plant in Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi money laundering investigators have since ordered the country's big banks to hand over details of transactions relating to Tulip as part of the probe.

In her letter of resignation, Tulip said her "family connections were a matter of public record" and that she had acted with "full transparency".

She insisted her "loyalty is and always will be" to the Labour government and the "programme of national renewal and transformation it has embarked upon".

"I have therefore decided to resign from my ministerial position."

Starmer thanked Tulip for her work and recognised that "no evidence of financial improprieties on your part" had been found.

In a letter accepting her resignation, Sir Keir said the "door remains open" for Tulip, a Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate.

Over the weekend, a Sunday Times investigation revealed details about the claims that she spent years living in a London flat bought by an offshore company connected to two Bangladeshi businessmen.

The flat was eventually transferred as a gift to a Bangladeshi lawyer with links to Hasina, her family and her ousted government, according to the newspaper.

It also reported Tulip and her family were given or used several other London properties bought by members or associates of the Awami League party.

Hours after Tulip's resignation, a statement from Bangladesh interim government's Chief Adviser's Press Wing said Dhaka is committed to bringing back stolen money from around the world.

As Professor Yunus told The Sunday Times of London, Tulip may not have entirely understood the source of the money and property that she was enjoying in London, but she knows now and should seek forgiveness from the people of Bangladesh, it said.​
 

Govt committed to bringing stolen money back: CA press wing

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The interim government is committed to bringing the stolen money back to the country.

"We remain committed to accountability and justice, and we will be working with partners around the world to return the stolen funds to the people of Bangladesh," according to a statement issued from the press Office of Chief Adviser last night.

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus has already expressed the views of the vast majority of Bangladesh's citizens.

He said properties and assets tied to stolen Bangladeshi funds, including those linked to individuals with connections to the previous regime, must be investigated thoroughly.

"If proven to have benefited from embezzlement, we expect those assets to be returned to Bangladesh, where they rightfully belong," he said.

As Prof Yunus told The Sunday Times of London, Tulip Siddiq may not have entirely understood the source of the money and property that she was enjoying in London, but she knows now and should seek forgiveness from the people of Bangladesh, the statement read.

The interim government is actively working with international law enforcement agencies to investigate and recover funds stolen from the people of Bangladesh. Such collaboration is vital to dismantle transnational networks of financial crime.

"We hope and expect all friendly governments, including the UK, to stand with the people of Bangladesh in seeking justice for these crimes. Corruption hurts everyone other than those who perpetrate it-and some of their favoured relatives and cronies."

The ongoing investigation into the $5 billion misappropriation linked to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant underscores the scale of corruption under the previous government.

The misuse of public resources in this and other projects has not only robbed the people of Bangladesh but also disrupted the country's progress toward economic stability, the statement said.

The theft of billions of dollars in public funds has left Bangladesh with a significant financial deficit.

"The funds stolen from Bangladesh belong to its people. We will continue to work with our international partners to ensure that justice is done," the statement said.​
 

Seizure of 16 properties of S Alam ordered
Staff Correspondent 14 January, 2025, 18:51

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S Alam Group chairman Md Saiful Alam | Collected photo

Court also orders freezing of 68 bank accounts of Alam, family

The Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s court on Tuesday ordered the seizure of 68 bank accounts and 16 properties of S Alam Group chairman Mohammed Saiful Alam and his family.

S Alam Group chairman Saiful Alam was a close associate of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina who fled to India amid a student-led mass uprising on August 5.

Several government agencies are investigating asset embezzlement and money laundering allegations against S Alam.

S Alam allegedly took about Tk 2 lakh crore from a number of banks in names and anonymously. A large portion of the funds was allegedly laundered abroad.

Saiful Alam and his family surrendered their Bangladeshi citizenship in 2020 and took Singaporean citizenship in 2021.

On Tuesday, the Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge’s court also directed the authorities concerned to freeze five bank accounts of former lawmaker for the Bogura-2 constituency Mohammad Shariful Islam Jinnah and his wife over allegations of corruption.

It also ordered the attachment of one of their vehicles and five immovable properties.

Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Zakir Hossain Galib issued the order for the seizure of bank accounts and properties of Saiful Alam and his family.

He came up with the order following a petition submitted by Anti-Corruption Commission deputy director Siffat Uddin for the seizure of these assets, said ACC public prosecutor Mahmud Hossain Jahangir.

The 16 properties are the 10-story S Alam Tower at Gulshan, a six-story building with one bigha of land at Dhanmondi, a four-story building on 11.88 decimals of land at Dhanmondi Lake Circus, a flat on 2,658 square feet of land at Gulshan, a plot of 0.788 acres at Gulshan 2, a building at Maat Tala in the Uttara residential area, a plot of 103.3 kathas of land in the Bashundhara residential area at Vatara, 1,700 acres of land, 96 kathas of land, 1,536 acres of land, 11,061 bighas of land and 131.4 kathas of land.

Apart from these, the same court also imposed a travel ban on former environment, forest, and climate change minister Md Shahab Uddin, his son Zakir Hossain Jumon, and former deputy minister for environment and forests Abdullah Al Islam Jakob over graft allegations.

Judge Zakir Hossain Galib passed the orders, allowing two separate pleas of the ACC.

The anti-graft body in its plea against Shahab Uddin and his son alleged that the father-son duo had amassed huge illegal wealth through corruption and embezzlement of public money.

The ACC also said that it was probing allegations of corruption, embezzlement of public funds, laundering money, and amassment of huge illegal wealth against Jakob.​
 

PLOT SCAM: ACC sues Hasina, Sajeeb
Staff Correspondent 15 January, 2025, 00:48

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Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

The Anti-Corruption Commission on Tuesday filed two separate cases against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy on charges of corruption in allotting Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha land plots at the Purbachal New Town project.

ACC deputy director Mohammad Salahuddin filed the cases with its integrated district office, Dhaka-1, said ACC director general (prevention) Md Akhtar Hossain. A case was filed against Hasina and seven former and serving officials of the housing and public works ministry and Rajuk over allocation of a government plot for Hasina through irregularities and corruption, he said.

The other accused are former Rajuk chairman Md Anisur Rahman Miah, senior assistant secretary Purabi Goldar, former members Shafiul Haque and Md Khurshid Alam, former estate and land member Mohammad Nasir Uddin, former development member Major (retd) Shamsuddin Ahmad Chowdhury, and former deputy director Nayeb Ali Sharif.

The other case was filed against Sajeeb, Hasina and 14 other officials of Rajuk and the housing ministry over allotment of a plot for Sajeeb through irregularities and abuse of power.

The other accused in the case are the ministry’s administrative officer Saiful Islam Sarkar, senior assistant secretary Purabi Goldar, additional secretary (administration) Kazi Wasiuddin, former secretary Shahid Ullah Khondkar, former Rajuk chairman Anisur Rahman Miah, former estate and land member Md Khurshid Alam, former development control member Tanmoy Das, former member Mohammad Nasir Uddin, former development member Major (retd) Shamsuddin Ahmad Chowdhury, director Kamrul Islam, assistant director Mazharul Islam, deputy director Nayeb Ali Sharif and director Nurul Islam.

According to the cases, Hasina, while serving as prime minister, misused her authority to conceal her family’s real estate holdings in Dhaka.

Despite owning several properties in the city, including flats and houses registered under the names of her children, sister, niece, and nephew, she did not disclose this in official affidavits.

Hasina is accused of unlawfully securing a highly valuable plot in the East Purbachal New Town Project’s diplomatic zone — plot No 009 on 203 Road in Sector 27 and her son Sajeeb secured plot No 015 — using her position of power to influence the ministry and Rajuk officials, the cases said.

Earlier, the ACC on Monday filed three cases against Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, Rehana’s son Redwan Mujib Siddique, Rehana’s daughters Tulip Siddique and Azmina Siddique on charges of corruption in allotting Rajuk land plots at the Purbachal New Town project.

Apart from the five members of Hasina and Rehan’s family, 19 other serving and former officers and employees of the housing and public works ministry and Rajuk were also accused in the cases.

According to the cases, Tulip, while serving as a member of the British parliament, influenced Hasina to allocate the plots for her mother Rehana, brother Redwan and sister Azmina.

Rehana, Redwan and Azmina, despite owning a house or flat or housing facility in an area under Rajuk in Dhaka city, concealed it in their affidavits and violated the provisions of the Dhaka Improvement Trust (Allotment of Lands) Rules, 1969 in getting allotments of three plots (each sized 10 kathas) in the diplomatic area of the Purbachal New Town project.

The ACC on Sunday filed a case against Hasina, her daughter Saima Wazed and 14 others on charges of the same irregularities in allotment of a plot No 017 in the same project for Saima.

The corruption cases were filed following an enquiry by the ACC launched on December 26 past year against Hasina, her sister Rehana and four of their children over allegations of irregularities and abuses of power in acquiring government plots spanning 60 kathas of land at Purbachal.

According to the allegations, Hasina in collusion with top officials of Rajuk facilitated the allocation of six plots — each is 10 katha in size — in her and family members’ names through irregularities and corruption during her tenure as prime minister.

Deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India amid a student-led mass uprising on August 5.​
 

ACC to investigate Hasina’s alleged misuse of power in Putul's WHO appointment
bdnews24.com
Published :
Jan 15, 2025 21:56
Updated :
Jan 15, 2025 21:58

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The Anti-Corruption Commission, or ACC, has decided to investigate whether deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina misused her authority to secure a position for her daughter, Sayema Wazed Putul, as the regional director of the World Health Organisation.

ACC Director General (Prevention) Akhtar Hossain told the journalist on Wednesday that the commission had received a complaint regarding the matter.

Putul, a clinical psychology graduate, earlier worked as a school psychologist in the United States.

Her mother Hasina appointed her as chairperson of Bangladesh’s National Advisory Committee on Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

Putul was also made a member of the WHO’s Expert Advisory Panel on Mental Health.

In November 2023, at the 76th session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia, or SEARO, in India’s New Delhi Putul was elected as the regional director.

She officially assumed the position in February 2024.

The WHO South-East Asia Office is based in New Delhi.

Since assuming the role, Putul has been residing there, while Awami League Hasina has also been in Delhi since losing power following the mass uprising on Aug 5, 2024.

ACC official Akhtar said, “There are allegations that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina misused her power to appoint her daughter Sayema Wazed Putul as the regional director despite her lack of qualifications.

”After verifying the preliminary information regarding the allegations, the commission has decided to investigate further.”

Since the fall of the Awami League government, over 100 cases have been filed against Bangladesh’s longest-serving prime minister Hasina.

Several cases have also been filed against her daughter, Putul, including one by the ACC regarding allegations of information concealment and power abuse related to the allocation of land in Purbachal.​
 

ACC to investigate Tarique Siddiqui, Tulip, Putul and others for corruption
BSS
Published :
Jan 15, 2025 20:50
Updated :
Jan 15, 2025 21:37

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Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched an investigation against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s defense advisor General Tarique Ahmed Siddique, his wife Shaheen Siddique, daughter Bushra Siddique, niece Tulip Siddique, and Azmina Siddique Ruponti.

ACC Director General Akhtar Hossain on Wednesday said the ACC has decided to investigate into their corruption, abuse of power, embezzlement of government land, money laundering and obtaining illegal wealth at home and abroad in their names and without names.

ACC has taken the decision after primary investigation against them, the DG said.

He said Saima Wazed Putul was appointed as the regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO) through corruption.

There is an allegation that former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina used her power unethically to appoint her daughter Saima Wazed Putul as the WHO regional director despite she has no qualification for the post, he said.

ACC has also decided to investigate into the allegation against former Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Tofazzal Hossain Mia for acquiring illegal wealth worth crores of taka through bribery, corruption and abusing power and money laundering, he added.​
 

ACC files cases against ex-railway minister Zillul Hakim, family members
Published :
Jan 16, 2025 20:55
Updated :
Jan 16, 2025 20:55

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The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Thursday filed cases against former railway minister and Rajbari-2 MP Zillul Hakim, his wife Saida Hakim and son Ashiq Mahmud Mitul for allegedly acquiring illegal assets and making unusual bank transactions.

The ACC has filed three separate cases against Zillul Hakim and his family while the ACC began investigating corruption allegations against Zillul Hakim on August 29 last year, UNB reports.

The MP won the 2014, 2018, and 2024 parliamentary elections with the nomination of Awami League.

In the first case, the former railway minister has been accused of acquiring illegal assets worth Tk 242.9 million (Tk 24.29 crore) and making unusual bank transactions worth Tk 2.79 billion (Tk 278.82 crore).

In the second case, Zillul Hakim is accused along with his wife, Saida Hakim. Saida Hakim has been accused of acquiring illegal assets worth Tk 40 million (Tk 4 crore) and making unusual transactions worth Tk 202.4 million (Tk 20.24 crore) in 6 bank accounts in her name.

Zillul Hakim and his son Ashiq Mahmud Mitul have been accused in the third case.

The case statement says that his wife and son have become wealthy due to Zillul Hakim's illegal assets. Mitul has been accused of acquiring illegal assets worth TK 26.2 million (Tk 2.62 crore).

On the other hand, the Commission has filed a case against former member of parliament from Mymensingh-10 Fahmi Golandaz Babel and his wife Sharmin Golandaz on the same charges.

In the first case, Fahmi has been accused of acquiring illegal assets worth Tk 201.1 million (Tk 20.11 crore) and making unusual transactions worth TK 609.8 million (Tk 60.98 crore) and USD 171,646 in 16 bank accounts.

In the second case, Fahmi and his wife Sharmin have been accused, while Sharmin has been accused of acquiring illegal assets worth Tk 12.9 million (Tk 1.29 crore) and making unusual transactions worth Tk 31.7 million (Tk 3.17 crore) in three bank accounts.​
 

Court orders freezing of S Alam family’s shares worth over Tk 35 billion
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Jan 16, 2025 20:11
Updated :
Jan 16, 2025 20:14

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A Dhaka court has ordered the freezing of more than 32.1 crore shares owned by Mohammed Saiful Alam, founder and chairman of S Alam Group, and his family members across 24 companies. The value of these shares amounts to Tk 35.63 billion (Tk 3,563 crore).

Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Zakir Hossain Galib issued this order on Thursday, following a petition from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC).

The ACC informed the court that Mohammed Saiful Alam and his family members own a total of 32,10,19,478 shares across 24 companies. The nominal value of these shares amounts to Tk 35.63 billion.

According to the ACC's investigation, the S Alam family members were attempting to transfer these shares. To ensure justice, the ACC deemed it necessary to freeze the shares. Following a hearing, the court ordered the shares to be frozen.

In a written statement to the court, the ACC mentioned that it is investigating allegations of laundering $1 billion by Mohammed Saiful Alam and his family members to Singapore, the British Virgin Islands, Cyprus, and other countries.​
 

HASINA FAMILY, 10 BUSINESS GROUPS: BB governor asks teams to expedite graft probes
Staff Correspondent 17 January, 2025, 00:25

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UNB file photo

Bangladesh Bank governor Ahsan H Mansur on Thursday directed 11 joint investigation teams to expedite their probes into corruption allegations against the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her family members, and 10 business groups.

The central bank governor also asked the team to collaborate effectively to resolve data-sharing challenges.

Mansur gave the instructions at a meeting with the 11 teams, held at the central bank’s headquarters to discuss the progress and activities of the investigation teams.

The government formed the teams to investigate allegations of bribery, corruption, fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and illegal fund transfers involving Hasina, her family members, and 10 business groups.

The teams consist of members from the Criminal Investigation Department, the National Board of Revenue, the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has been designated to lead the 11 joint investigation teams, as per a January 6 directive issued by the Financial Institutions Division of the finance ministry.

Mansur stressed the necessity of a coordinated approach to advancing the investigations and ensuring seamless information exchange among the teams.

According to Bangladesh Bank officials, dedicated office spaces have been allocated to the teams at the central bank’s headquarters to facilitate their work.

The investigations focus on Hasina, her family, affiliated individuals, institutions and trusts, and 10 large industrial groups — Aramit Group, S Alam Group, Beximco, Nasa Group, Sikder Group, Bashundhara Group, Summit Group, Orion Group, Gemcon Group and Nabil Group.

The owners and associates of these groups will also come under scrutiny.

At the meeting with the BB governor, the investigation teams presented updates on their progress.

Mansur urged them to intensify their efforts and maintain transparency while adhering to legal frameworks.

Media reports said that Tulip Siddiq, Sheikh Hasina’s niece, resigned from her position in the United Kingdom government on January 14 after being implicated in graft investigations in Bangladesh.

The reports said that Hasina’s family members, including Tulip, had already emerged as named targets of the ACC’s investigation into accusations of embezzlement of $5 billion connected to a Russian-funded nuclear power plant.

The investigation team will examine her alleged involvement in corruption, money laundering, bribery, and misuse of power, aligning these actions with the broader probes into Sheikh Hasina’s family.

The teams have been given strict guidelines, including adherence to anti-terror financing laws and regulations. They must also maintain confidentiality and report progress to the Financial Institutions Division under the finance ministry.

On December 2, 2024, the Financial Institutions Division directed the BFIU to launch joint investigations under anti-money laundering laws. The structure and guidelines for these investigations were revised on January 6 to enhance their effectiveness.​
 

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