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

[Saif]

PLOT SCAM: ACC sues Hasina, Sajeeb

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...

www.newagebd.net

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

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.​

 

[Saif]

ACC to investigate Hasina’s alleged misuse of power in Putul's WHO appointment

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 Hossa

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

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

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.​

 

[Saif]

ACC to investigate Tarique Siddiqui, Tulip, Putul and others for corruption

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 Hos

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

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

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.​

 

[Saif]

ACC files cases against ex-railway minister Zillul Hakim, family members

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 Zi

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

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

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.​

 

[Saif]

Court orders freezing of S Alam family’s shares worth over Tk 35 billion

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 Zak

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

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

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.​

 

[Saif]

HASINA FAMILY, 10 BUSINESS GROUPS: BB governor asks teams to expedite graft probes

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...

www.newagebd.net

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

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.​

 

[Bilal9]

Tulip Siddiq (British MP and Hasina's niece) resigns amid corruption probe, she is alleged to have helped her aunt conduct graft activity worth Billions.

 

[Saif]

Tulip Siddiq (British MP and Hasina's niece) resigns amid corruption probe, she is alleged to have helped her aunt conduct graft activity worth Billions.

Corruption-----it runs in the Sheikh family.

 

[Saif]

ACC to send graft info about Saima to WHO

The Anti-Corruption Commission will send corruption information about the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, to the World Health Organisation through the foreign affairs ministry.

www.newagebd.net

ACC to send graft info about Saima to WHO
Staff Correspondent 20 January, 2025, 00:39

Saima Wazed Putul

The Anti-Corruption Commission will send corruption information about the ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s daughter, Saima Wazed Putul, to the World Health Organisation through the foreign affairs ministry.

The anti-graft agency has taken the step to send the letter after it has filed a corruption case against Saima Wazed Putul, who is serving as the regional director of the WHO.

The letter would be sent to the foreign ministry today, and based on the information sent by the ACC, the ministry might write to the WHO to take action against Saima, said an ACC official.

In November 2023, Saima was elected regional director of the WHO for the South-East Asia Region.

On January 15, the ACC started an enquiry against Saima over allegations that she had used various corrupt practices to be appointed as the WHO regional director.

There are allegations that Saima’s mother and deposed prime minister Hasina, who was ousted on August 5, 2024, amid a mass uprising, had misused her power to appoint Saima, despite her lack of qualifications.

On January 12, the ACC filed a case against Hasina, Saima and 14 others over allegations of corruption in allotting Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha land plots in the Purbachal New Town project.

Saima had used her mother’s power to gain the allotment of Plot 017 on Road 203 of Sector 27 of the Purbachal New Town Project, violating laws, the ACC case statement said.

Early this month, the ACC filed a total of six cases against Hasina and her family members on charges of corruption in allotting Rajuk land plots at the Purbachal New Town project.​

 

[Saif]

S Alam’s loans hit Tk 2.25 lakh crore, 44pc anonymous

Controversial S Alam Group has acquired a staggering Tk 2.25 lakh crore from 10 banks and a non-bank financial institution, pushing the country’s banking sector and economy into a severe crisis.

www.newagebd.net

S Alam’s loans hit Tk 2.25 lakh crore, 44pc anonymous
Mostafizur Rahman 22 January, 2025, 00:21

Controversial S Alam Group has acquired a staggering Tk 2.25 lakh crore from 10 banks and a non-bank financial institution, pushing the country’s banking sector and economy into a severe crisis.

About 44 per cent or Tk 97,486 crore of the loans was taken using shell companies and anonymously while Tk 92,676 crore was taken in the business group’s name and Tk 34,866 crore indirectly, according to the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit data submitted to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

At a press conference on August 28, 2024, Bangladesh Bank governor Ahsan H Mansur termed the S Alam scandal ‘the largest bank heist in world history’, accusing the business group of using state mechanisms to acquire over Tk 2 lakh crore ($16.6 billion).

The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit has found preliminary evidence that a significant portion of these funds has been laundered.

A joint investigation team led by the ACC has already been formed to probe the S Alam Group’s alleged money laundering. Criminal Investigation Department of the Bangladesh Police and the National Board of Revenue are also in the team.

Such a massive withdrawal of funds most of which was allegedly laundered has sent exchange rates soaring, with the dollar selling at now at Tk 122, foreign exchange reserves dwindling to $20 billion and commodity prices skyrocketing.

S Alam Group chairman Saiful Alam Masud was a close associate of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina who fled to India amid a student-led mass uprising on August 5, 2024.

Saiful and his family acquired Singaporean citizenship in 2021, renouncing Bangladeshi nationality in 2020.

S Alam withdrew from Islami Bank Bangladesh Tk 1.05 lakh crore, First Security Islami Bank Tk 45,636 crore, Social Islami Bank Tk 12,876 crore, Union Bank Tk 23,526 crore, Global Islami Bank Tk 13,250 crore, Bangladesh Commerce Bank Tk 995 crore, Al-Arafah Islami Bank Tk 377 crore, National Bank Tk 2,346 crore, Exim Bank Tk 6,346 crore and state-run Janata Bank Tk 12,332 crore and from NBFI Aviva Finance Tk 1,858 crore.

The loans from Islami Bank, constituting 70 per cent of the business group’s total loans, were secured against collateral worth less than Tk 6,000 crore.

The loans have already begun to be classified as defaulted as the business group was not repaying the instalments. The group defaulted on Tk 11,734 crore with Janata Bank and Union Bank as of September 2024.

The amount of the business group’s total loans will continue rising as loan interests will be added to the total loans due to non-payments.

Due to such massive fund withdrawals and irregularities, these institutions except Al-Arafah Islami Bank have found them in a serious crisis and failed to pay back depositors’ money. Islami Bank is now trying to turn around after the disaster.

The business group had controlled the banks except Janata Bank and Exim Bank before the fall of the Awami League-led government.

BB officials said that S Alam’s loan spree had escalated after the 2018 national elections, leveraging political connections and bypassing banking regulations.

The past Awami League regime allegedly had facilitated S Alam’s control of multiple banks under state patronage.

S Alam Group chairman Saiful Alam Masud has now initiated a legal effort as a Singaporean citizen to recover losses he claims were caused by the interim government freezing his assets and harming his investments, The Financial Times reported on December 24.

Saiful and his family currently reside abroad and they could not be contacted for comment regarding the fund withdrawal and money laundering allegations. The group’s executive director, Subrata Kumar Bhowmik, could not be reached over phone.

Moinul Islam, a former economics professor at the Chittagong University, told New Age that the loans in question were political in nature and those were approved with the consent of the ousted prime minister, Sheikh Hasina.

‘It is inconceivable that a single business group could control seven banks and withdraw such a massive amount of loans without her knowledge,’ he said, adding that this level of corruption under government patronage was unprecedented globally.

He noted that sales of the business group’s all collateral and assets would recover only a fraction of the loans.

Moinul urged the government to accept the fact that the bulk of the loans could not be recovered and to frame economic policies to address the banking crisis, keeping this reality in mind.

He also emphasised the need for identifying the ultimate beneficiaries of these loans, even if they include members of the Sheikh Hasina’s family.

Mustafa K Mujeri, former chief economist of the Bangladesh Bank, told New Age that a single business group securing such a massive amount of loans against minimal collateral was a blatant irregularity, amounting to looting from banks.

He held the former board members, management officials of the banks, and the Bangladesh Bank as the regulator, accountable for these large-scale scams.

Identifying and prosecuting those who were responsible are essential to prevent corruption in future, he said.

Mujeri suggested that the banks first negotiate with the business group to recover the loans. If negotiations fail, legal actions, including selling the group’s other properties, should follow, he said.

He also recommended that the government and banks pursue international arbitration to recover the business group’s overseas assets.

Bangladesh Bank executive director Husne Ara Shikha, also the spokesperson for the central bank, told New Age that the banks, which were previously under S Alam’s control, were now free from the business group’s influence.

Investigations into his loan irregularities and alleged money laundering are ongoing, she added.

The Bangladesh Bank data showed that the amount of non-performing loans in the country’ banking sector shot up by more than Tk 1 lakh crore to Tk 2,84,977 crore in September 2024 from Tk 1,82,295 crore at the end of March.

About 17 per cent of total bank loans of Tk 16.82 lakh crore was classified as non-performing, the highest in South Asia.​