Staff Reporter:
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is set to file a case against Saima Wazed Putul, daughter of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, along with 34 others, on charges of collecting bribes in the name of donations under the banner of ‘Suchona Foundation’ and embezzling Taka 448 crore.
ACC Director General Md Akhter Hossain informed newsmen about the approval of the case yesterday.
According to the ACC complaint, Saima Wazed and the other accused established a paper-based entity named ‘Suchona Foundation’ and obtained registration from the NGO Affairs Bureau and the Depart-ment of Social Services.
Later, they collected bribes from various individuals and organizations under the guise of donations by offering illegal benefits. Instead of spending the money for the welfare of disabled persons, they embez-zled Taka 448 crore, it said.
The accused from ‘Suchona Foundation’ include trustee Saima Wazed, Prof Mazharul Mannan, former BCB President Nazmul Hassan Papon, Saifullah Abdullah Solenkhi, Jan Bari Rizvi, foundation’s Vice-Chairman Prof Pran Gopal Datta and Executive Committee Members-Mehraj Jahan, Prof Ruhul Haque, Shirin Zaman Munir and Helaluddin Ahmed.
The ACC director general said that businessmen provided donations to the foundation in exchange for undue advantages.
The accused businessmen are- Hamid Real Estate Chairman Enthekhabul Hamid, former minister and businessman Nurul Islam, former MP and Beximco Vice-Chairman Salman F Rahman, Summit Group Chairman Mohammad Aziz Khan, former MP and businessman AKM Rahmatullah, United Group Chairman Moinuddin Hasan Rashid, Meghna Group Chairman Mostafa Kamal, and Bill Trade Engineer-ing Ltd Chairman and Managing Director Enayetur Rahman.
The ACC complaint further said NBR officials abused power by granting tax exemptions to ‘Suchona Foundation’ resulting in nearly Taka 100 crore in tax evasion and embezzlement. Former NBR Chair-man Md Nojibur Rahman, along with at least 15 other officials of the organisation, have also been ac-cused.
According to the allegations, the accused provided financial benefits to ‘Suchona Foundation’ and abus-ing tax law powers, issued gazettes granting tax exemptions for dishonest purposes. They unlawfully benefitted themselves or others through collusion, misconduct, breach of trust, and abuse of power, thereby embezzling Tk 447.95 crore. In addition, Suchona Foundation evaded Tk 990 crore in taxes be-tween fiscal years 2015-2016 and 2024-2025 through fraud and forgery.
The complaint also mentioned that the accused carried out suspicious transactions amounting to Tk 930 crore through 14 bank accounts under the name of ‘Suchona Foundation’.
