Wealth linked to Hasina, family found in UK and US: CA's press secretary

Dhaka, 10 March  - Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Monday said investigations have found assets linked to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members across five countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States.

Briefing reporters at the Foreign Service Academy, Alam said a joint investigation team has found assets belonging to Sheikh Hasina, her family members, and entities connected to her family in the UK, the US, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the Cayman Islands.

A Russian slush fund (a reserve of money used for illicit activities such as political bribery) was identified in a bank in Malaysia, said the press secretary.

Over Tk 636 crore deposited in 124 banks accounts were attached or frozen, while 60-katha plot of Rajuk and eight flats with 10 dicimal land worth Tk 8.85 crore were attached, Alam said.

He said six cases were filed against Hasina and her family members on charge of plundering and forgery and probes were completed and charge-sheets were submitted in six cases, he said.

Alam said travel ban was imposed on seven family members of Hasina.

He said Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) sent two intelligence reports to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and froze Tk 5.15 crore deposited in 11 bank accounts.

He said the BIFU also sent the details of all bank accounts of Hasina and her family members to the ACC.

Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretaries Abul Kalam Azad and Apurba Jahangir, as well as Assistant Press Secretary Suchismita Tithi were present.