ACC starts probe into alleged laundering of $300m by Hasina, Joy 

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has initiated an inquiry into allegations that ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, laundered $300 million to the United States.

The complaint filed against Hasina and Joy has been forwarded to the ACC director general (special investigation) for further probing, officials of the anti-graft watchdog told The Business Standard on condition of anonymity.

Previously, on 17 December, ACC Director General Md Akhtar Hossain said ACC has also launched a separate probe into claims that Hasina, Joy, Hasina's sister Sheikh Rehana, Rehana's daughter and British MP Tulip Siddiq, and others embezzled Tk80,000 crore through irregularities and corruption from nine priority development projects during the Awami League government's tenure. 

The nine projects include the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, Ashrayan, and several others under BEPZA and BEZA, said sources.

Of the Tk80,000 crore, Tk59,000 crore has been reportedly embezzled from the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project alone.

Hasina resigned and fled to India with Rehana on 5 August in the face of a mass uprising led by students, which toppled the autocratic Awami League government led by her after 15 years of ruling.

According to ACC officials, in 2014, the name of Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy first came to attention in the case of the United States versus Rizvi Ahmed.

The FBI's investigation revealed serious financial misconduct involving Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

Specifically, information surfaced about money being transferred from various bank accounts in Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands under his name through a local money exchange to banks in Washington DC, New York, and London.

The FBI confirmed this through their London representative and found evidence of serious financial irregularities and money laundering.

Senior trial attorney and special agent from the Department of Justice confirmed that $300 million from Bangladesh had been deposited into various US banks.

Regarding the matter, ACC Chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen told reporters, "This incident is largely true. We may receive more specific information in the future. We will speak directly about it later."

News of Interpol's Red Notice against Hasina not correct 

Since early Sunday, a number of media outlets have run reports saying a Red Notice has been issued by Interpol against deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina. However, this claim is false. 

At a briefing, International Crimes Tribunal's Chief Prosecutor Tajul Islam said he does not know whether a Red Notice had been issued or not.

The Police Headquarters also said they do not yet have information about the issuance of a Red Notice against Hasina, who fled to India on 5 August in the face of a mass uprising led by students.

Talking to TBS, Additional Inspector General Enamul Haque of the Police Headquarters media wing said they were not informed about this issue. 

"We wrote a letter to Interpol for the issuance of a Red Notice for the arrest of Sheikh Hasina a few days ago. We have yet to receive any notification regarding the issuance of the Red Notice."

Earlier in the day, Tajul had said a Red Notice would be issued against Hasina, according to different media reports. It should be noted that Interpol's website showing Red Notices does not show any such notice for Hasina.

Interpol currently has a total of 6,656 public Red Notices in circulation. Only 63 of them are against Bangladeshis.