ACC to sue Joy, Saima, Radwan, and former NBR chair Mosharraf over alleged money laundering
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The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to file a case against eight individuals, including Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy, Saima Wazed, and Radwan Mujib Siddiq, on charges of money laundering, misuse of power, and causing financial losses to the state while implementing political agendas.
The first two are the ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s son and daughter, while the latter is her nephew.
According to the ACC press release, the case has been prepared under Sections 409 and 109 of the Penal Code, Section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947, and Sections 4(2) and 4(3) of the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.
The accused are Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy, Chairman and Trustee of the Centre for Research and Information (CRI), and former ICT Affairs Adviser to the former Prime Minister; Saima W. Hossain alias Saima Wazed, Trustee and Vice-Chairman of CRI; Radwan Mujib Siddiq, Trustee of CRI; Nasrul Hamid (Bipu), Trustee of CRI; Shabbir Bin Shams, Executive Director of CRI; Rowshan Ara Akhter, Member, Tax Appeal, National Board of Revenue (NBR); Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, former Chairman of NBR and former Senior Secretary, Internal Resources Division; and
AHM Mustafa Kamal, former Finance Minister.
The ACC report alleged that the accused individuals, in collusion with each other, misused authority to unlawfully grant tax exemptions to the Centre for Research and Information (CRI)—an organisation not registered with the Department of Social Services.
They allegedly obtained undue financial benefits by issuing a Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO) for income tax exemption under the guise of public welfare.
The report further stated that CRI unlawfully received Tk 45.36 million in donations from 23 companies through coercion. Between the fiscal years 2013–2014 and 2023–2024, the organization allegedly generated Tk 1.00 billion in illegal income, out of which Tk 157 million was misappropriated.
According to ACC findings, Tk 2.48 billion was deposited and Tk 1.91 billion was withdrawn through 25 bank accounts, amounting to Tk 4.39 billion in suspicious transactions.
The accused also allegedly evaded Tk 36 million in income tax, violating Part B, Clause 11B of Schedule 6 of the Income Tax Ordinance, 1984.
The illegally obtained money was reportedly transferred, converted, and distributed among various individuals.
The ACC has decided to file a case against the accused under the applicable sections of the Penal Code, Prevention of Corruption Act, and Money Laundering Prevention Act.