The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has summoned former prime minister Sheikh Hasina for questioning over allegations of embezzlement worth Tk812 crore through development projects at three airports.
ACC Deputy Director (Public Relations Officer) Akhtarul Islam told journalists on Wednesday that a letter, signed by ACC Deputy Director Monirul Islam, had been sent to her addresses in Dhanmondi and Gopalganj, requesting her to appear at their headquarters at 10:30am on Thursday.
Former state minister for civil aviation and tourism Md Mahbub Ali and former secretary Md Mokammel Hossain have also been summoned for questioning.
Failure to appear for questioning will result in Sheikh Hasina—who fled to India in the face of a student-led uprising in August last year and has remained there since—losing the right to defend herself.
According to Akhtarul Islam, the allegations of embezzlement involve the misappropriation of funds amounting to thousands of crores of taka, under the guise of development work at various airports over the past 15 years, through collusion, forgery, irregularities, and corruption.
On 27 January, the ACC filed four separate cases against 19 individuals, including the former prime minister’s military adviser, Tarique Ahmed Siddique, over these allegations.
Those accused also include former senior secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Mohibul Haque, and former chairman of the Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA), Muhammad Mafidur Rahman.
Last year, Sheikh Hasina’s government was ousted on 5 August following a student-led uprising. Since then, several cases have been filed on various charges against a range of individuals, including charges of corruption and murder.
Awami League President Sheikh Hasina remains the prime accused in nearly all of these cases.
Although similar letters have been issued in relation to other cases against her, officials believe it is highly unlikely that Sheikh Hasina or her legal representatives will appear.
In such circumstances, investigations will proceed in her absence, with her status deemed that of a “fugitive.”