ACC files case against 3 including Sheikh Hasina over Tk 276 crore fund embezzlement

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against three individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her sister Sheikh Rehana, on charges of collecting and embezzling Tk 276 crore 34 lakh 50 thousand from the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds of 41 banks in the name of the 'Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust'.

The other accused in the case is former chairman of Exim Bank and former president of the Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB), Md Nazrul Islam Majumdar.

ACC Assistant Director Ismail Hossain lodged the case as the plaintiff at the commission's Dhaka-1 office on Thursday. ACC Secretary Syedur Rahman Khan confirmed the information at a press briefing.

The secretary said the accused had caused financial loss to the state by collecting funds in favour of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust. The charges include offences punishable under sections 409 and 109 of the Penal Code and section 5(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1947.

The case statement said the accused, in conspiracy with each other, "through abuse of power and criminal breach of trust," collected a total of Tk 276 crore 34 lakh 50 thousand from the CSR funds of 41 banks in the country in favour of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust.

The ACC said legal action has been taken against the accused for collecting and embezzling the money. Further details will be available after investigation into the allegations.