Bangladesh ex-PM Hasina under ACC scanner for asset discrepancies

By Mamun Abdullah, (Dhaka Tribune), May 23: The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has launched a full-scale re-investigation into the assets of ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, following fresh discrepancies found in her wealth declarations and the alleged misuse of a duty-free car import privilege.

The commission's Director General (Prevention) Md Akhter Hossain, confirmed that the inquiry, triggered by new data, includes a re-examination of Hasina’s 2007 wealth statement and her 2008 election affidavit.

He said that preliminary findings suggest significant underreporting of both immovable and movable assets, including over 21 acres of land and a luxury Mercedes-Benz car valued at over Tk1.9 crore, which was imported using another MP’s quota.

Upon issuing a notice regarding her previously submitted wealth statement, Sheikh Hasina compiled and submitted the required documents on the specified date.

The current commission, however, opted to re-investigate the details as part of its standard due diligence procedures.

As part of this re-investigation, the ACC compared the data submitted in 2007 with her income tax records from that period as well as the affidavit Sheikh Hasina submitted to the Election Commission ahead of the 9th Parliamentary Elections in 2008.

According to the commission file record, in the 2007 statement submitted to the ACC, Sheikh Hasina declared a total of 9.308 acres of immovable property (5.19 acres inherited and 4.118 acres purchased), with the value of the purchased land listed as Tk1,75,000.

She also declared movable assets worth Tk3,24,87,344.

However, upon verification, the ACC found that Sheikh Hasina owns 28.411 acres of immovable property (11.445 acres inherited and 16.966 acres purchased), with the purchased land valued at Tk33,66,010.

Her total movable assets were reassessed at Tk5,18,10,154.

In her 2008 affidavit submitted to the Election Commission as a candidate in the 9th Parliamentary Election, Sheikh Hasina declared ownership of 6.50 acres of land, purchased for Tk1,75,000, and movable assets totaling Tk3,46,99,904.

The ACC determined that this affidavit omitted 21.911 acres of land and underreported the value of her purchased land by Tk31,91,010.

Additionally, she failed to declare the ownership of a vehicle valued at Tk1,93,20,000, constituting a significant concealment of assets.

Hasina imported luxury car using another MP’s duty-free quota

According to the commission report, it has found that Sheikh Hasina imported a Mercedes-Benz car using the duty-free quota allocated to the then MP for Magura-1, Professor Dr Mohammad Sirajul Akbar.

The vehicle, valued at €230,000 (with a total of Tk1,93,20,000 paid through a letter of credit from a local bank), was registered using Sheikh Hasina’s personal residence.

The car was registered under the number Dhaka Metro-Gha-11-6364 and was used by Sheikh Hasina herself.

The ACC's inquiry further reveals that Prof Dr Mohammad Sirajul Akbar neither mentioned this car in his income tax filings nor in the affidavit he submitted to the Bangladesh Election Commission ahead of the 9th National Parliamentary Election.

He also reportedly never used the vehicle.

In light of these findings and following the commission’s decision, the ACC has recommended that appropriate legal action be taken against Sheikh Hasina Wazed under the Representation of the People Order, 1972, for providing false information in her election affidavit.

Based on these discrepancies, the Commission has made two key decisions: as the authority to take legal action on false declarations in election affidavits rests with the Bangladesh Election Commission, the ACC has decided to forward the relevant information to them for necessary legal measures.

Additionally, since the information regarding Sheikh Hasina’s alleged illegal wealth dates back to 2008, the ACC will conduct a detailed investigation into the current status of those assets.

Further action will be taken following the submission of a comprehensive report based on updated findings.