Thursday | 16 January 2025 | Reg No- 06
বাংলা
   
Thursday | 16 January 2025 | Epaper

Call to probe allegations of Khaleda, Tarique’s money laundering

Published : Sunday, 10 December, 2017 at 2:19 PM  Count : 740
Observer Special
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.






LATEST NEWS
MOST READ
Also read
Call to probe allegations of Khaleda, Tarique’s money laundering
BD joins 'Nuclear Club' for power generation
PM Hasina sways the world, pressure builds on Suu Kyi
Labour hour and wage problem in our rural economy
Noble Sheikh Hasina, ignoble Suu Kyi
Durga Puja ends: Communal harmony reigns all along
Rohingya crisis: PM Hasina’s assertive role
Pakistan ISI, ISIS backing Rakhine imbroglio
Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Online: 41053014; Advertisement: 41053012.
E-mail: district@dailyobserverbd.com, news©dailyobserverbd.com, advertisement©dailyobserverbd.com, For Online Edition: mailobserverbd©gmail.com
🔝
close