Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stepped down on August 5 last year amidst extensive student and public protests, fleeing with her younger sister, Sheikh Rehana.
Since then, a horrifying array of corruption allegations has surfaced against the former PM, her family, and numerous officials from the previous government, including ministers, state ministers, bureaucrats, and various professionals.
Between August 5 and December last year, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) received 8,623 complaints relating to irregularities and corruption involving individuals and organizations. Of these, 1,361 complaints were approved for investigation, and action was initiated. Additionally, 495 complaints were referred to the relevant departments or offices for further action.
Consequently, the ACC acknowledged 21.52% of the total complaints within the five months following August 5. The remaining 6,767 complaints were not pursued due to either their unlisted nature or lack of specific information, according to ACC sources.
ACC Deputy Director and Public Relations Officer Akhtarul Islam informed the Daily Observer, "The ACC receives complaints directly, by post, or by mail. Additionally, news reports from various media outlets are treated as complaints. If the commission finds the primary truth in the complaints, it accepts them for investigation."
Islam emphasized that the ACC operates within the legal framework: "Most complaints cannot be investigated as many do not fall under the ACC's jurisdiction. If they are not scheduled crimes, we cannot take them up for investigation."
ACC sources further revealed that allegations of political power abuse, various irregularities, and corruption against the former prime minister and her family have been widely discussed.
On December 26, the ACC began investigating alleged irregularities and corruption in the allocation of six plots in the Purbachal New City project, named after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her younger sister Sheikh Rehana, son Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, nephew Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby, and niece Azmina Siddique. Cases were subsequently filed regarding these incidents.
