The Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday decided to file a case against eight people, including deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and daughter Saima Wazed Putul for their alleged involvement in misuse of power, tax exemption irregularities, and embezzlement of funds in favour of the Centre for Research and Information.
Sajeeb is the chairman of the CRI and Putul is its vice-chairman.
The commission approved the case at a meeting at its headquarters, said ACC director general (prevention) Akhtar Hossain.
Besides Sajeeb and Putul, the other accused are Sheikh Rehana鈥檚 son and CRI trustee Radwan Mujib Siddiq, former state minister and CRI trustee Nasrul Hamid, CRI executive director Sabbir Bin Shams, National Board of Revenue member Rowshan Ara Akhter, former NBR chairman Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, and former finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal.
According to the ACC findings, the accused, in collusion with each other, allegedly misused provisions of the Income Tax Ordinance, 1984, to grant tax exemption benefits to CRI even though the organisation was not registered with the Department of Social Services.
The report states that CRI, while claiming to be a non-profit entity working for public welfare, unlawfully received tax benefits, causing financial losses to the government.
The inquiry further found that the accused collected grants from various institutions through pressure and lobbying.
A total of Tk 45.35 crore was reportedly taken from 23 companies into CRI鈥檚 accounts while the organisation allegedly earned Tk 100.31 crore between the 2013鈥�2014 fiscal year and the 2023鈥�2024 fiscal year.
After deducting admissible expenditures a shortfall of Tk 15.68 crore was found that was embezzled by the accused.
It also alleged that the ACC stated that suspicious financial transactions of more than Tk 439 crore were made through 25 bank accounts operated in the name of CRI.
Apart from this, the government allegedly suffered losses due to the non-payment of Tk 36.52 lakh in income tax, in violation of the Income Tax Ordinance, 1984.
The inquiry further noted that the transfer, conversion, and misappropriation of these funds amounted to money laundering under the Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.