Muhammad Yunus demands return of stolen billions in Bangladesh

admin — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 06:39:54 +0000

Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus stated that funds stolen from Bangladesh belong to its people and will continue working with international partners for justice. File
| Photo Credit: AP

Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday (January 15, 2025) demanded the return of stolen assets, decrying the scale of corruption under the ousted government of Sheikh Hasina, toppled by a revolution last year.

Ms. Hasina (77) fled a revolution in August 2024 to India, where she has defied extradition requests from Bangladesh to face charges including mass murder.

Also read: Ground zero | The making of the Bangladesh revolt

“The theft of billions of dollars in public funds has left Bangladesh with a significant financial deficit,” Mr. Yunus said in a statement.

“The funds stolen from Bangladesh belong to its people. We will continue to work with our international partners to ensure that justice is done,” he added.

Mr. Yunus said he expected “assets to be returned”, adding that the stolen funds have “not only robbed the people of Bangladesh, but also disrupted the country’s progress toward economic stability”.

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is investigating Hasina and her wider family, including her niece, British lawmaker and anti-corruption Minister Tulip Siddiq.

Ms. Siddiq on Tuesday resigned (January 14, 2025) from her position, but repeated her denial that she had done anything wrong.

The ACC’s probe of Ms. Hasina’s family is linked to the embezzlement of $5 billion connected to a Russian-funded nuclear power plant, as well as an alleged land grab of lucrative plots in a suburb of the capital Dhaka.

ABritish Sunday Times investigation revealed details about the claims Ms. Siddiq spent years living in a London flat bought by an offshore company connected to two Bangladeshi businessmen.

The flat was eventually transferred as a gift to a Bangladeshi lawyer with links to Ms. Hasina, her family and her ousted government, according to the newspaper.

It also reported Ms. Siddiq and her family were given or used several other London properties bought by members or associates of Ms. Hasina’s Awami League party.

“Tulip Siddiq may not have fully understood the origins of the money and properties she enjoyed in London,” Mr. Yunus said.

“However, now that she knows, she should seek forgiveness from the people of Bangladesh,” he said.

Published – January 15, 2025 12:09 pm IST

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Bangladesh files graft cases against Sheikh Hasina’s family

admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 12:49:44 +0000

Bangladesh’s anti-graft commission has filed cases against ousted leader Sheikh Hasina and her family. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

Bangladesh’s anti-graft commission has filed cases against ousted leader Sheikh Hasina and her family, including a British government Minister and a senior United Nations official, its chief said Monday (January 13, 2025).

Ms. Hasina, 77, fled a revolution in August 2024 to neighbouring India, where she has defied extradition requests from Bangladesh to face charges including mass murder.

The cases are linked to an alleged large-scale land grab of lucrative plots in a suburb of the densely populated capital Dhaka.

“Sheikh Hasina, in collaboration with some officials, allocated plots for herself and her family members,” Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director general Akhter Hossain told reporters.

Mr. Hossain said those named in the case also include Hasina’s niece, British Anti-Corruption Minister Tulip Siddiq. She has insisted she has done nothing wrong.

Ms. Hasina’s daughter Saima Wazed, the World Health Organization’s South East Asia chief, is also listed. There was no immediate response from Wazed.

“The ACC investigation team has obtained the necessary documents and found sufficient evidence to file the cases,” Ms. Hossain said.

“They will include relevant details, such as property acquisitions while conducting further investigations.”

Ms. Hasina’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy is also named, as well as Hasina’s sister Sheikh Rehana, Ms. Siddiq’s mother.

Ms. Siddiq referred herself this month to the standards adviser of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The referral came after British newspapers the Sunday Times and Financial Times reported that she had lived in properties linked to Hasina’s administration.

Bangladesh’s anti-corruption commission also launched a probe in December into the alleged embezzlement by Ms. Hasina’s family of $5 billion connected to a Russian-funded nuclear power plant.

The kickback allegations relate to the $12.65 billion Rooppur nuclear plant, which was bankrolled by Moscow with a 90% loan.

Published – January 13, 2025 06:19 pm IST

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Graft case Bangladesh – Artifex.News

Muhammad Yunus demands return of stolen billions in Bangladesh

Bangladesh files graft cases against Sheikh Hasina’s family