Summary:
- Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission faces coordinated resistance investigating 80,000 crore Taka ($7.2B) embezzlement across 8 mega projects tied to former PM Sheikh Hasina and associates.
- Critical evidence destroyed post-2023 regime change including Rooppur Nuclear Plant documents and electronic voting machine procurement records worth 59,000 crore Taka.
- RAJUK urban authority petitions ACC to drop charges against 47 officials, claiming East Palli New Town plot allocations to Hasina’s family followed “government orders.
- Pro-Hasina business oligarchs reportedly pooled 5,000 crore Taka to disrupt investigations through media campaigns and institutional obstruction.
Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) faces mounting challenges investigating alleged embezzlement in infrastructure projects linked to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family, with officials reporting evidence destruction, bureaucratic resistance, and legal maneuvering by implicated parties. The probes target eight mega projects – including the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and airport expansion initiatives – where ₦80,000 crore ($7.2 billion) reportedly went missing through inflated contracts and irregular land allocations.
Key inquiries focus on the East Palli New Town Project, where 830 premium plots were allegedly granted to Hasina’s relatives, staff, and political allies between 2009-2024 without proper documentation. ACC has filed charges against 47 officials from the Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (RAJUK) urban development authority and Public Works Ministry, accusing them of facilitating these transactions.
Systematic Evidence Destruction
ACC investigators confirmed critical financial records for the Rooppur plant (₦59,000 crore budget) and electronic voting machine procurement (₦4,000 crore) were destroyed after Hasina’s government lost power in 2023. “We’re getting delayed responses to document requests, and many files arrive incomplete,” said an ACC official speaking anonymously. RAJUK recently petitioned the commission to drop charges against its staff, claiming they followed “government orders” in allotting six East Palli plots to Hasina’s family.
Legal Pushback Intensifies
Senior Supreme Court advocate Delwar Hossain Chowdhury criticized RAJUK’s stance: “Where’s the proof that Hasina’s family made ‘exceptional contributions to nation-building’ – the legal basis for such allocations? If officials didn’t object then, they’re complicit now.” Former ACC director Md. Maidul Islam noted the commission lacks authority to reconsider charges once filed, calling RAJUK’s letter “a criminal obstruction attempt” under Section 19(3) of the 2004 Anti-Corruption Act.
The probes have exposed alleged collusion between Hasina’s administration and business oligarchs, with ₦5,000 crore reportedly pooled to disrupt investigations through media campaigns and institutional resistance. ACC’s revived investigations follow reforms under Dr. Muhammad Abdul Momen’s interim government, formed after Hasina fled to India in late 2024 amid mass protests over economic mismanagement.
Source: Daily Inqilab
