The Anti-Corruption Commission on Wednesday said that they did not find the existence of the office of Suchona Foundation, founded by ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 daughter Saima Wazed, at the organisation鈥檚 registered address in the capital鈥檚 Dhanmondi area.
The commission on the day went to the registered address of Suchona Foundation, a non-profit and voluntary organization, at Dhanmondi following allegations of misappropriation of state funds by the foundation鈥檚 founder Saima and others, said the ACC deputy director for public relations, Aktarul Islam.
A team of the commission led by its assistant director Naushad Ali collected the foundation鈥檚 registration records from the office of Dhaka District Social Services, reviewed them, and went to the foundation鈥檚 registered address at Dhanmondi for inspection, he said.
The office of Saima鈥檚 organisation, however, could not be found at the address, the official said.
Saima is the regional director of the World Health Organization for South-East Asia.
To investigate the tax exemptions granted to Suchona Foundation, the team obtained relevant Statutory Regulatory Orders from the National Board of Revenue.
The ACC team, from preliminary evidence, found that the foundation was exempted from paying income tax on all its earnings since 2016.
On Sunday, the ACC revealed that Saima Wazed was a Canadian citizen when she was nominated for the position in the WHO. The information provided by her regarding the eligibility for the post was not accurate.
The ACC also said that there were credible allegations of corruption against Saima to get an appointment at the WHO.
According to the ACC, Saima allegedly misused her influence as the daughter of a prime minister to secure financial benefits for Suchona Foundation.
Saima exerted undue influence over the NBR to secure tax exemptions for the entitled funds of her foundation.
A separate ACC inquiry revealed that Saima acquired a 10-katha plot in the diplomatic zone of the Purbachal New Town project in Dhaka through corruption and abusing her family鈥檚 political influence.
The ACC prosecuted her along with others in this connection.
