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The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to file a case against Saima Wazed Putul, daughter of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, and 34 others.
They are accused of embezzling Tk 4.48 billion through a fake organisation called Suchona Foundation, which collected donations as bribes from various individuals and institutions.
On Monday, ACC Director General (Prevention) Md Akhter Hossain confirmed the approval of the case.
The ACC had begun its probe into the Suchona Foundation after August 5 last year.
On November 24 last year, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) froze the foundation's bank accounts.
In February this year, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) cancelled its tax exemption facilities.
A month ago on January 29, the ACC raided the foundation's office and declared it a non-existent organisation.
Later, on March 20, the ACC filed another case against Putul and two others over Tk 330 million embezzlement linked to the same foundation.
According to the new ACC complaint, Putul and the other accused registered the foundation with the NGO Affairs Bureau and the Department of Social Services, and then collected "donations" in exchange for illegal benefits.
Instead of spending the money for the welfare of disabled people as claimed, they embezzled Tk 4.48 billion.
The Suchona Foundation trustees who have been accused are Saima Wazed, Prof Dr Mazharul Mannan, former Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hassan Papon, Saifullah Abdullah Solenkhi, Zann Bari Rizvi, and Vice Chairman Prof Dr Pran Gopal Datta, and executive committee members Ms Mehraj Jahan, Prof Dr Ruhul Haque, Shirin Jaman Munir, and Dr Helaluddin Ahmed.
Businessmen who have been accused are Intekabul Hamid, chairman of Hamid Real Estate; Nurul Islam, former minister and businessman; Salman F Rahman, vice chairman of Beximco; Md Aziz Khan, chairman of Summit Group; AKM Rahmatullah, former MP and businessman; Moinuddin Hasan Rashid, chairman of United Group; Mostafa Kamal, chairman of Meghna Group; and Enayetur Rahman, chairman and managing director of Bill Trade Engineering.
NBR officials who have been accused are Md Nojibur Rahman, former NBR chairman, as well as former and running members, including Mir Mustaq Ali, Chowdhury Amir Hossain, Parvez Iqbal, Md Farid Uddin, Md Firoz Shah Alam, Barrister Jahangir Hossain, Dr Mahbubur Rahman, Md Lokman Chowdhury, Md Rezaul Hasan, Md Ziauddin Mahmud, Abdur Razzak, AFM Shahriar Molla (Abu Faisal Md Shahriar Molla), Sultan Md Iqbal, Tandra Sikder, and Kalipada Halder.
According to the ACC, the accused abused their power by granting illegal tax waivers to the foundation.
Between fiscal years 2015-16 and 2024-25, the foundation evaded Tk 990 million in taxes and embezzled Tk 4.479 billion through fraud and forgery.
It was also revealed that the foundation operated 14 bank accounts, where suspicious transactions of Tk 9.30 billion were made.
In July this year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) sent Putul on leave from her post as the director of South-East Asia Regional Office.
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