The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit has launched a joint investigation into allegations of illegal wealth accumulation and money laundering by ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members.
The probe team includes representatives from the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Criminal Investigation Department of the Bangladesh Police and the National Board of Revenue.
The anti-money laundering agency has also restructured 10 previously established joint investigation teams tasked with probing allegations of illegal wealth accumulation, tax evasion and money laundering by 10 large business groups, BFIU officials said.
The restructuring follows the finance ministry鈥檚 recommendations sent to relevant agencies on January 7, they said.
The 10 business groups under investigation include S Alam, Bashundhara, Beximco, Orion, Nabil, Summit, Gemcon, Nasa, Sikder and Aramit Group.
The BFIU officials said that the new team was formed to investigate allegations against Hasina and her family members.
Hasina鈥檚 niece Tulip Siddiq resigned from the United Kingdom government on January 14 after being named in graft probes in Bangladesh, according to media reports.
Hasina鈥檚 family members, including Tulip, had already emerged as named targets of the ACC鈥檚 investigation into accusations of embezzlement of $5 billion connected to a Russian-funded nuclear power plant, the reports said.
The Anti-Corruption Commission has been designated to lead the 11 joint investigation teams, as per a January 6 directive issued by the Financial Institutions Division of the finance ministry.
The teams are mandated to investigate corruption, fraud, forgery, money laundering, and tax and customs-related offenses tied to these entities and individuals.
Led by the ACC, CID and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate, the joint investigations into the 10 business groups initially commenced on December 2, 2024.
A BFIU official said that the reorganisation of the teams was necessary due to technical issues.
The official said that the team members were reassigned and no teams were annulled in the process.
The investigations are being coordinated by the BFIU, the financial intelligence arm of the Bangladesh Bank, with legal assistance provided by the Attorney General鈥檚 Office.
