Staff Reporter :
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has approved a case against eight individuals, including Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Saima Wazed Putul, the son and daughter of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, over allegations of large-scale financial irregularities and embezzlement through the Centre for Research and Information (CRI).
According to the ACC, the accused are alleged to have misused state authority and resources to implement political agendas through CRI, causing significant financial losses to the government.
The charges include embezzlement of public funds, tax evasion, abuse of power, and suspicious financial transactions.
The decision was confirmed on Wednesday (November 5) by ACC Director General Md Akhtar Hossain.
The case will be filed by ACC Assistant Director Mubashshira Atia Tama at the commission’s Integrated District Office in Dhaka.
Other accused include former Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid Bipu, Sheikh Rehana’s son Radwan Mujib Siddiq, former National Board of Revenue (NBR) chairman Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, NBR member Rowshan Ara Akhter, and CRI Executive Director Shabbir Bin Shams.
The case has been filed 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.
According to the ACC findings, CRI was granted tax exemption privileges through an SRO issued in violation of the Income Tax Act, despite not being registered under the Department of Social Services.
The organization allegedly received Tk 45.36 crore in “donations” from 23 companies under undue pressure.
From the 2013–14 to 2023–24 fiscal years, CRI reportedly earned Tk 100.31 crore unlawfully.
After legitimate expenses of Tk 29.50 crore, the organization was expected to have Tk 70.80 crore in its accounts, but only Tk 55.11 crore was found, indicating an embezzlement of Tk 15.69 crore.
The ACC also detected suspicious transactions amounting to Tk 439.06 crore, involving deposits of Tk 247.85 crore and withdrawals of Tk 191.21 crore across 25 CRI bank accounts.
In addition, the commission found evidence of Tk 36.52 lakh in unpaid income tax, resulting in further financial loss to the government.
The ACC said further investigation is underway to trace the flow of funds and identify other individuals or institutions involved in the alleged corruption scheme.
