ACC opens probe into graft allegations against Hasina, family members
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The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to investigate corruption allegations against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members.
ACC Director General (Prevention) Akhtar Hossain announced the decision on Tuesday.
The development comes two days after the High Court issued a rule asking why the ACC's inaction over an alleged transfer of $5 billion from the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project to a Malaysian bank by Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and niece Tulip Siddiq should not be declared illegal.
The graft watchdog said that it has received corruption allegations involving Tk 210 billion in eight priority projects initiated during the Awami League government.
Additionally, there are accusations of corruption worth Tk 590 billion in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project.
As part of its investigation, the ACC will look into the involvement of Hasina, Joy, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and Rehana's daughter Tulip. The decision was made during a commission meeting headed by ACC Chairman Abdul Momen on Tuesday.
According to ACC documents, the allegations of corruption in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project were brought to light by Bobby Hajjaj, chairman of the National Democratic Movement (NDM). The accusations of “embezzling" Tk 210 billion through the implementation of projects under Ashrayan, BEZA, and BEPZA surfaced from media reports.
Hasina fled to India on Aug 5 in the face of a mass uprising that toppled the Awami League government after 15 years in power. Her sister Rehana accompanied her. Joy resides in the US, while her niece Tulip is a member of the British parliament.
The International Crimes Tribunal has issued arrest warrants against Hasina, Rehana, and Joy on charges of “genocide and crimes against humanity” as part of the Awami League government’s attempts to suppress the student-led uprising. They are also named in multiple murder cases filed in connection with the demonstrations.
This is the first time that the ACC has initiated an investigation into the massive corruption allegations that surfaced during the Awami League’s long rule.