Saima Wazed, 34 others sued over misappropriation of Tk448cr Shuchona Foundation funds
The ACC has also brought charges over suspicious transactions exceeding Tk930 crore.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a case against Shuchona Foundation Chairperson Saima Wazed Putul, daughter of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, along with 34 others, over allegations of misappropriation of around Tk448 crore.
The commission has also brought charges over suspicious transactions exceeding Tk930 crore, ACC Director General Akhtar Hossain confirmed the matter to journalists today (1 September).
The accused include former Bangladesh Cricket Board president and MP Nazmul Hasan Papon, former MP and businessman Salman F Rahman, Summit Group Chairman Aziz Khan, United Group Chairman Moinuddin Hasan Rashid, Meghna Group Chairman Mustafa Kamal, and several former senior NBR officials.
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The ACC investigation alleges that the accused formed Shuchona Foundation as a paper-based organisation, obtained registrations from relevant authorities, and collected donations by offering undue benefits to individuals and businesses.
Instead of utilising the funds for disability welfare, the money was allegedly diverted for personal gain, it alleged.
In January this year, ACC officials raided Sudha Sadan in Dhanmondi — listed as one of the foundation's offices — only to find no operational presence. ACC claims to have gathered substantial evidence of large-scale misappropriation, tax evasion, and corruption linked to the foundation.
The case accuses NBR officials of granting unlawful tax exemptions to the foundation, resulting in nearly Tk100 crore in evaded taxes between FY2015-16 and FY2024-25. The ACC said the accused acted in collusion to abuse power, commit fraud, and breach public trust.
