ACC Probes Hasina Family's Purbachal Plot Scandal

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Publish : 26 Dec 2024, 06:39 PM

Photo: Collected

Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members allegedly secured six 10-katha plots in the Purbachal New Town project through irregularities, abuse of power, and corruption. Based on these allegations, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has initiated an inquiry against Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and four other members of the Hasina family.

At a briefing on Thursday (December 26), ACC Director General Akhtar Hossain shared this information.

The six individuals under investigation are former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina; her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy; daughter Saima Wazed Putul; younger sister Sheikh Rehana; Rehana's son Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby; and her daughter Azmyna Siddiq.

The ACC director general stated that the investigation was prompted by allegations of acquiring Purbachal plots under illegal ownership.

This investigation follows a series of legal and corruption cases against Sheikh Hasina after she was ousted from power on August 5 through a student and public uprising. Since then, over 250 cases have been filed against her, including murder charges, some of which have been submitted to the International Crimes Tribunal.

Allegations of Financial Misconduct
Sources indicate that the FBI conducted a preliminary investigation into Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy. In the 2014 U.S. case United States vs. Rizvi Ahmed, Joy's name surfaced, leading to revelations of serious financial misconduct. The FBI uncovered evidence of significant financial irregularities and money laundering, involving funds transferred from Hong Kong and Cayman Islands accounts to banks in Washington, D.C., New York, and London. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and senior trial attorney Linda Samuels confirmed these findings in collaboration with FBI Special Agent La Prévotte, revealing $300 million had been transferred from Bangladesh to U.S. banks.

Broader Corruption Allegations
The ACC also disclosed other significant cases:

Former State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid Bipu faces allegations of irregular financial transactions totaling BDT 6,000 crore.
Naogaon’s Atrai Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Kamal Hossain has been charged with fraudulently obtaining a civil service position.

The ACC noted that under government directive 13/A, Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, sister Sheikh Rehana, and Rehana’s children secured six 10-katha plots in the diplomatic zone of Sector 27 in the Purbachal New Town project. These allocations were exposed through media reports, prompting the ACC to take action.

High Court Intervention
On December 15, the High Court issued a rule questioning the ACC’s inaction regarding allegations of embezzlement involving $5 billion (approximately BDT 60,000 crore) from the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) project. This rule followed a writ petition filed on September 3 by Bobby Hajjaj, chairman of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), seeking an inquiry.

Earlier, on December 22, the ACC had decided to investigate allegations of laundering $300 million by Sheikh Hasina and Sajeeb Wazed Joy. The ACC had previously formed a five-member team to probe allegations of BDT 80,000 crore corruption involving Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, and their family in various projects. Both allegations are being investigated by the same team.

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