In more troubles for ousted former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has decided to probe into allegations of TK 80,000 crore embezzlement by ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members from nine projects including Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
According to the Bangladesh’s Anti Corruption Commission, it has initiated an enquiry into allegations of corruption, embezzlement and money laundering involved in Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project and a Special team of five officials are conducting the enquiry.
The officials claimed that information from various open sources stated that the aforementioned project has been marred by financial irregularities amounting to approximately $5 billion USD.
It further stated that the report Hasina, her Son Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed (Joy) and niece Tulip Siddiq embezlled $5 Billion from overpriced $12.65 billion Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant through various offshore bank accounts in Malaysia.
It is alleged that these individuals siphoned offs substantial sums of money through various offshore accounts in Malaysia, following questionable procurement practices related to the overpriced construction of the entire Nuclear Plant.
It has been also stated that the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project, which was initially launched with the noble goal of addressing Bangladesh’s growing energy needs, now appears to be overshadowed by these serious allegations.
“The claims of kickbacks, mismanagement, money laundering, and potential abuse of power raise significant concerns about the integrity of the project and the use of public funds,” the officials claimed.
The allegations of Clcorruption against Siddiq’s family members includes his paternal uncle, Tarique Ahmed Siddique, the Security Advisor to the Bangladeshi Prime Minister, his wife and daughter are stakeholders in a fake company named Prochchaya Limited formed in 2009,” they claimed.
“This company, in affiliation with a slash fund cheat fund company named Destiny Group, had laundered around $900 million to different countries, including the United Kingdom and has opened a company named Zumana Investment and Properties Limited in the United Kingdom by investigating dirty money,” the officials claimed.
The officials also claimed that various newspapers claim in the UK and worldwide that Labour Party MP Siddiq has maintained discreet connections with Moscow since she met President Putin.
It also alleged that Hasina, her son Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed (Joy) over laundering of $300m to United States
According to other allegation, the name of Wazed (Joy) first came up as a money laundering suspect in the US versus Rizvi Ahmed case in 2014.
“Later, a probe conducted by a powerful US intelligence agency uncovered serious financial scams involving Wazed. It has also noted that in particular, information emerged that money was being laundered from various offshore bank accounts in Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands in his name to various bank accounts in Washington and New York in the United States and London in the United Kingdom through a local money exchange entity,” it alleged.
The US intelligence agency also confirmed the matter through their London representative and found evidence of serious financial irregularities and money laundering committed by Wazed.
It has also mentioned that Linda Samuels, Senior Trial Attorney of the Department of Justice, contacted Special Agent La Prevot and found that $300 million was deposited from Bangladesh to various bank accounts in the United States.
Moreover, the commission has initiated a new enquiry against deposed Prime Minister Hasina and her son Wazed into amounting Tk 80,000 crore corruption allegations against Hasina, Wazed, her younger sister Sheikh Rehana and Rehana’s daughter and British minister Siddiq.
The alleged corruption involving Tk 80,000 crore occurred in nine projects, including the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and the Special Ashrayan Project during the Awami League government between 2009 and 2023, according to the allegation.
Recently, the special enquiry team has collected the preliminary identity documents from Election Commission office and from Immigration and Passport Department.
A special requisition report has been sent to Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) for supplying relevant documents and statements of offshore bank accounts running by the name of the suspected persons.
Hasina was forced to resign after violent protests erupted in the country against reservations in government jobs. Mobs ransacked her house after she fled the country in August this year.
