Report Exposes Billions in Corruption and Money Laundering Under Hasina’s Rule; Bashundhara Group and Powerful Elites Accused”

A committee led by Dr. Debpriyo Bhattacharya, formed to investigate economic irregularities and corruption, reported that under Hasina’s regime, an average of $16 billion was illegally sent abroad every year. It also revealed that influential figures close to the government have used the state machinery to launder between $12 to $15 billion annually through the banking sector and business transactions. However, no official record exists detailing the true scale of money laundering during Sheikh Hasina’s leadership.

In a separate case, three lawsuits have been filed at Badda police station regarding the deaths of protesters during the anti-inequality student movement. Among the 537 accused are former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, and Managing Director Sayem Sobhan Anvir.

Bashundhara Group, one of the largest industrial conglomerates in Bangladesh, began its operations in 1987 with real estate and has since expanded into various sectors, including cement, shipping, media, tissue paper, and consumer goods. Over the past 15 years, their close ties with the ruling Awami League have helped them amass a vast fortune through illegal activities.