The
recent media reports on Saudi Arabian investigation into the
allegations of money-laundering, corruption and bribery by BNP
Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her sons have raised questions of integrity
and legality in the political, diplomatic and civil society circles.
The
civil society members want urgent measures to delve into the details of
Khaleda and Tarique's investments on all offshore assets, as reported
by different media at home and abroad.
According to the reports,
Khaleda Zia and her sons had an investment of around $12 billion in
malls and other infrastructural projects in Saudi Arabia with the money
amassed through bribery and extortion, now under the scanner of the
Saudi authorities.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her press
conference last Thursday has said that her government would investigate
into the allegations, denied by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul
Islam Alamgir, and would take all out efforts to bring those money back.
Transparency
International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman
told the Daily Observer, "As the information of money laundering of
Khaleda Zia comes from the Prime Minister, it carries importance. The
authorities concerned s
hould investigate into the matter following
proper legal course."
He said, "As everyone is equal before the law,
like other persons Khaleda Zia cannot get immunity if the allegation of
money laundering is proved."
"If the state-agencies find the
veracity of Khaleda's alleged money laundering, the state must take
action to bring back the money laundered. And currently Bangladesh has
the ability to fetch international co-operation to bring back the money
siphoned off," the TIB Executive Director said.
Prof Dr.
Harun-or-Rashid, Vice-Chancellor of National University, told the Daily
Observer, "Nobody is above law whatever power he or she holds. The rule
of law demands that like any other citizen a powerful person is also
liable to be tried if allegation of corruption against them is proved.
So, as the Prime Minister stated the alleged money laundering of
Khaleda, she has definitely information. So, legal measures should be
taken to probe into the money laundering."
He added that Khaleda Zia is being tried now on the charge of irregularities in Zia Orphanage Charitable trust.
As
investigations are underway, more facts have surfaced about huge
investments by the BNP Chairperson's late son Arafat Rahman Koko,
convicted for corruption, who died in January 2015. Koko allegedly made
enormous investments outside Bangladesh, all from his ill-gotten money.
Similarly,
his elder brother Tarique Rahman, now hiding in England, reportedly
invested several millions of dollars in many foreign destinations with a
large chunk of the sum in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other West Asian
countries during the BNP-Jamaat rule from 2001-2006.
It is incumbent
upon the authorities particularly DUDAK, Bank and Financial Institution
Division (BFID) and Bangladesh Bank to probe all allegations of
investments of Khaleda and Tarique West Asia and share the informations
appropriately with the Saudi authorities.
Most recently, Arab-based
TV channel Global Intelligence Network (GIN) along with a Canadian
channel went overboard in naming Khaleda Zia and others for their
involvement in money laundering.
The website of GIN, incorporated in
Nevada, USA since 1996 has seasoned staff that encompasses over 150
years of investigative, law enforcement and intelligence experience.
It has conducted background investigations of individuals and companies.
On
July 21, 2016 BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman, the 'fugitive'
eldest son of Khaleda Zia, was sentenced to seven years in prison by the
High Court for laundering nearly Tk 20.41 crore, overturning a lower
court's decision to acquit him in the high-profile graft case.
The HC
found him guilty of siphoning off the money to Singapore between 2003
and 2007 when the BNP-led four-party alliance government of his mother
Begum Khaleda Zia was in power.
"Tarique Rahman influenced political
power to help his close friend Giasuddin Mamun to get and then launder
Tk 20.41 crore", the HC said.
On June 23, 2015, Khaleda's second son
Arafat Rahman Koko was sentenced to six years in prison and fined Tk 190
million for smuggling money to Singapore between 2004 and 2006, when
his mother was the prime minister.
On September 13, Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina told parliament that her government would investigate the
allegation of laundering over Tk 1,200 crore in 12 countries by the BNP
Chairperson Khaleda Zia's family.
After a three-day state visit to
Cambodia, Sheikh Hasina last Thursday told a press briefing that
according media reports Khaleda owns a large shopping mall in Saudi
Arabia. However, she expressed her anguish as media except two daily
newspaper, one English and one Bangla, and two TV channels, did not
cover the money laundering issue of Begum Zia and her sons.
Following
the statement of Prime Minister, civil society members gave their
reactions that the allegation against Khaleda and her sons should be
probed into as per law and the money siphoned off must be brought back.
