Global advertising giant WPP has been called upon to review and sever its partnership with Bangladesh-based Asiatic 3sixty, following allegations linking the agency to corruption under the former Sheikh Hasina administration.
In a legal notice sent to WPP CEO Mark Read in February, UK law firm Brandsman LLP, acting on behalf of the Anti-Discrimination and Corruption Forum (ADAC), raised what it described as 鈥榮erious ethical concerns鈥� about WPP鈥檚 affiliation with Asiatic, one of Bangladesh鈥檚 leading advertising conglomerates.
The notice emphasised that WPP, as a signatory to both the Institute of Business Ethics and the UN Global Compact, has committed to upholding high standards of integrity, anti-corruption, and transparency across its global operations.
According to the letter, Asiatic has long benefited from political patronage and secured government contracts during the tenure of the ousted Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
It further claimed that the Hasina regime is under scrutiny for alleged corruption, human rights violations, and even genocide 鈥� charges that are reportedly being considered by the International Criminal Court.
Citing a UN Human Rights Office report, the letter stated: 鈥楤rutal systematic repression of protests resulted in as many as 1,400 deaths within seven weeks, with 12鈥�13 per cent of the victims being children.鈥�
The letter also highlighted Asiatic鈥檚 ties to the Centre for Research and Information (CRI), the Awami League鈥檚 research wing, which has previously been flagged for propaganda activities.
It referenced Meta鈥檚 removal of dozens of Facebook pages and accounts linked to CRI for 鈥榗oordinated inauthentic behaviour.鈥�
Brandsman also advised WPP to suspend its partnership with Asiatic pending the outcome of the investigation 鈥� and to terminate the relationship entirely if the allegations are substantiated.
