For all latest news, follow The Financial Express Google News channel.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has called on the Election Commission (EC) to take legal steps against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina for allegedly concealing information about her assets in the affidavit filed against her during the 9th national elections.
On Thursday, ACC Chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen said legal actions have been requested against Hasina under the Representation of the People Order, 1972, bdnews24.com reports.
Citing the verification of her asset declaration to the anti-graft watchdog, he said the letter also mentioned that she had shown 2.63 hectares of agricultural land priced at Tk 1.75 million in the affidavit filed before the Dec 29, 2008, elections.
However, the ACC found Hasina has 11.5 hectares of agricultural land in her name, of which the total cost of the land purchased is Tk 3.36 million.
In another allegation, the letter mentions Hasina, using the then Magura-1 MP Mohammad Sirajul Akbar's “duty-free quota”, imported a Mercedes Benz worth £230,000, he added.
“A total of Tk 19.32 million was paid from the bank against the letter of credit (LC).
“The car was registered to her Dhanmondi residence, Sudha Sadan, and she used it.”
However, no information about the car was found in Sirajul’s income tax return or the affidavit filed with the EC before the 9th national elections, and it is known that he never “used” it.
The Awami League government fell in the face of student-led mass uprising on Aug 5, 2024, and Hasina fled to India that day.
Since then, the anti-graft agency filed several cases against the former premier and her family members.
Cases have also been filed against her on charges of “murder” and “attempted murder”.