Published : 25 Dec 2024, 09:02 AM
Updated : 28 Aug 2026, 01:15 AM
A summary from the Chief Advisor’s Office has provided an insight into the corruption allegations the Anti-Corruption Commission, or ACC, has against the deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her son, sister, and niece.
The summary, citing the ACC, said according to information obtained from “open sources”, there were “financial irregularities” amounting to around $5 billion in Bangladesh’s first nuclear power project in Rooppur.
“Ousted Bangladesh’s prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her Son Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy and niece Tulip Siddiq embezzled $5 Billion from overpriced $12.65 billion Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant through various offshore bank accounts in Malaysia,” it added.
The summary also indicated how the money was allegedly laundered.
Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said, “We have started working on Sheikh Hasina’s corruption cases. More details will be available soon. This is our top priority.”
He accused the Awami League chief of establishing a “kleptocracy” and added: “People of Bangladesh want to know who was involved in this grand theft. It is our moral obligation to inform them.”
Hasina fled to India on Aug 5, in the face of a student-led mass uprising, marking the end of the Awami League’s 15-year rule.
On that day, her sister Sheikh Rehana also left the country, while her son Joy was already living in the United States.
When the agreement for the construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant was signed in Russia in 2013, Hasina, along with Joy, Rehana, and Tulip, were present.
Their photograph with Russian President Vladimir Putin was also published in the media at that time.
In November, reports from several local media outlets cited a Global Defence Corp website, accusing Hasina and her family of involvement in $5 billion in corruption linked to the Rooppur project.
As these reports surfaced, a writ petition was filed, and the High Court raised questions about the ACC's inaction in the matter.
In response, the graft watchdog launched an investigation into the allegations against Hasina and her family, and a five-strong team was formed to carry out the inquiry.
In addition, the ACC has decided to investigate another allegation of $300 million money laundering against Hasina and Joy.
ACC Director General Akhter Hossain (prevention) told bdnews24.com, “The investigation team is currently collecting records and documentary evidence related to the corruption allegations against the former prime minister and her family members.”
As part of its inquiry, the ACC has sent letters to several departments to collect documents related to offshore banking accounts and identification papers linked to the longest-serving prime minister and her family.
According to the summary, “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.”
It added that Tulip's uncle, Tariq Ahmed Siddique, the former security advisor to Hasina, his wife and daughter are stakeholders in a fake company named Prochchaya Limited (Incorporation Certificate Number C-75659/09, dated Mar 25, 2009).
“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 & Properties Limited [Incorporation Certificate Number 7417417, dated Oct 25, 2010] in the United Kingdom by investigating dirty money,” the summary read.
“Various newspapers claim in the UK and worldwide that Labour Party MP Tulip Siddiq has maintained discreet connections with Moscow since she met President Putin.”
After the ACC announced its decision to investigate corruption allegations against Hasina and her family, the issue caused a stir in the UK as well.
Hasina's niece Tulip holds the position of economic secretary and city minister in the UK government led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
This means that tackling financial crime and illicit finance is part of her responsibilities.
The British newspaper The Times reported that the UK Cabinet Office's Propriety and Ethics Team, or PET, questioned Tulip on Thursday over allegations of mediation with Russia.
The Labour Party MP denied the accusations, calling them "false" and "completely politically motivated”.
Joy also denies the allegations of involvement in the alleged "corruption" during the interim government, calling them "completely baseless" and part of a "malicious smear campaign”.
In response to the allegations, Joy told Reuters: “My family nor I have ever been involved or taken any money from any government projects."
Joy, who resides in Washington, added: "It is not possible to siphon off billions from a $10 billion project. We also don't have any offshore accounts.”
“I have been living in the US for 30 years, my aunt and cousins in the UK for a similar amount of time. We obviously have accounts here, but none of us have ever seen that kind of money."
The interim government has recently sent a diplomatic letter to India for the extradition of Hasina.
In response, Joy said the family had not made a decision on her return to Bangladesh and New Delhi had not asked her to seek asylum elsewhere.
Earlier, Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Mantytskiy dismissed the allegations of a $5 billion bribe related to the Rooppur project against Hasina and her family, calling them "rumours" and "false”.
After a meeting with Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed on Aug 25, he told journalists: “I can say without hesitation, this is a rumuor and false statement. Our company, Rosatom [the company working on the Rooppur project], has already issued a statement on this matter.”
No statement regarding the corruption allegations has been posted on Hasina's official Facebook page.
bdnews24.com was also unable to get a response from Tulip’s uncle Tarique.
$300MN MONEY LAUNDERING ALLEGATION
The ACC is investigating a fresh allegation that Hasina and Joy, who served as her ICT advisor, had smuggled out $300 million to the United States.
The allegation first emerged in 2014 in the case of the United States versus Rizvi Ahmed, where Joy’s name was flagged as a suspect in financial misconduct.
“Later, a probe conducted by a powerful US intelligence agency uncovered serious financial scams involving Sajeeb Wazed,” the summary said.
It added, “Information emerged that money was being laundered from various offshore bank accounts in Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands, held in his name, to several bank accounts in Washington and New York in the United States, as well as in London, United Kingdom, through a local money exchange service."
The summary, citing the ACC, said: “The US intelligence agency also confirmed the matter through their London representative and found evidence of serious financial irregularities and money laundering committed by Sajeeb Wazed.”
“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 several bank accounts in the United States.”
The summary also highlights an ongoing investigation into a broader corruption case involving Hasina and her family, with allegations of up to Tk 800 billion in corruption across nine projects between 2009 and 2023, including the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and the Special Ashrayan Project.
Recently, the special enquiry team has collected preliminary identity documents from the Election Commission office and the Immigration and Passport Department.
A special requisition report has been sent to the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit, or BFIU, requesting relevant documents and statements regarding offshore bank accounts operated under the names of the suspects.
