United News of Bangladesh

Over the past 11 months, Bangladesh’s anti-graft landscape has unfolded with a mix of progress, as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has wrapped up 249 cases since December 2024, but with more than half ending up in acquittal. From December 2024 to October 2025, 512 cases were filed against corrupt people both at home and abroad, including money launderers, state fund embezzlers, loan defaulters and various government, private and political figures. During the same period, 249 pending cases were resolved, resulting in convictions in 126 cases and acquittal in 123. The ACC also reported recovering fines amounting to Tk 5,058 crore and confiscating assets worth Tk 321 crore. Read more: Recovered gold not only Hasina’s, includes family members too, says ACC According to 11 months of case and charge sheet statistics, the ACC received 11,630 complaints, but only 960 were accepted for inquiry. Meanwhile, 798 enforcement operations were conducted, of which 188 are under investigation, 28 have resulted in cases, and four people were caught red-handed through traps. Besides, 23 public hearings were held. During this period, the ACC says, a total of 512 cases were filed implicating 2,191 accused individuals. Charge sheets were submitted in 315 cases, naming 1,078 accused.  A total of 73 cases were exempted under FRT (final report). Following the fall of the Awami League government amid mass protests on August 5 last year, the ACC began investigating corruption by top politicians, businessmen and institutions. The commission found evidence of money laundering and corruption, prompting a series of cases and subsequent court orders to freeze and confiscate assets — a process that continues. In the aftermath of the mass uprising, the ACC claimed it had achieved record success in its crackdown on corrupt individuals, confiscating and freezing unprecedented amounts of movable and immovable assets. Between December 2024 and October 2025, the ACC seized and froze assets worth more than Tk 26,013 crore belonging to over 300 individuals and entities involved in corruption, embezzlement and money laundering. By comparison, the total value of confiscated and frozen assets in all of 2024 was only Tk 361 crore. In the five years from 2020 to 2024, the combined figure stood at roughly Tk 3,450 crore, highlighting the dramatic surge in asset seizures over the past 11 months. According to ACC’s asset management division and court sources, Tk 3,457 crore 83 lakh worth of assets were confiscated within the country during this period. Besides, domestic bank and financial accounts containing Tk 22,226 crore 79 lakh were frozen, along with Tk 328 crore 38 lakh frozen abroad. In total, around Tk 26,013 crore 2 lakh 93 thousand in assets were confiscated or frozen both domestically and internationally. Commenting on the overall development, ACC Commissioner Miah Muhammad Ali Akbar Azizi said, “I want to emphasise that the ACC is empowered with substantial legal authority. To expedite judicial proceedings, more special courts are required.” Read more: ACC approves chargesheet against former IGP Benazir Ahmed ACC has not yet become the fully empowered institution it needs to be, said its Chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen. Responding to a question on whether the ACC is a ‘toothless tiger’, he said, “The ACC has both teeth and claws — though they may need further sharpening. The teeth are not as sharp as they need to be. The claws have not fully grown yet. We are somewhere in the middle stage.” When asked whether the ACC faces political or external pressure, the chairman issued a strong warning, saying that anyone attempting to hinder corruption inquiries or investigations in the future will have their names publicly disclosed. He emphasised that combating corruption is not solely the responsibility of the ACC. Each government, autonomous, and private institution must strengthen their own audit mechanisms. “If institutions took action against corrupt officials based on their internal audit reports, many cases would not even need to come to the ACC,” he said. Sharing data on recent ACC activities, Momen noted that an analysis of the 11 months from December 2024 to October 2025 shows that politicians account for the lowest number of ACC cases. During this period, 151 cases were filed against politicians, while only 28 cases resulted in charge sheets. The chairman’s comments underline both the structural limitations of the ACC and the growing expectation for greater transparency, especially with the new warning to expose those who attempt to exert undue influence. Read more: ACC to reveal names if pressure exerted to obstruct probe: Chairman

A Dhaka court today framed charges against Nobel laureate Dr Yunus and 13 others in a case over embezzling Tk 25.22 crore of the Grameen Telecom Workers' welfare fund. Dhaka’s Special Judge's Court-4 Judge Syed Arafat Hossain passed the order after rejecting a petition for excluding names of the accused from the charges, said the defendants’ lawyer Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun. The court also set July 15 to take testimony from the witnesses, formally beginning trial in the case, he said. Dr Yunus and the other accused are now on bail and they pleaded not guilty, demanding justice while the court was framing charges, said the lawyer. Read more: US says it will continue to encourage Bangladesh govt to ensure a fair legal process for Dr. Yunus On February 1 this year, the investigating officer of the case, ACC Deputy Director Gulshan Anwar Pradhan, submitted the charge sheet against Dr. Yunus and 13 others. The court accepted the charges against them on June 2 after a hearing in this regard. The 13 other accused in the case are: Grameen Telecom MD Nazmul Islam; Director Ashraful Hasan, former MD Parveen Mahmood; Najnin Sultana, Shahjahan, Noorjahan Begum, and S. M. Hazzatul Islam Latifi, all serving as directors; along with Advocate Yusuf Ali; Advocate Zaforul Hasan Sharif; Md Kamruzzaman, President of the Union of Grameen Telecom Employees; Firoz Mahmud Hasan, General Secretary; Kamrul Hasan, office secretary of the Employees' Union office, and representative Mainul Islam. Gulshan Anwar, the Deputy Director of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), filed the case as the primary complainant on May 30, 2023. Read more: Law is taking its own course: Hasan Mahmud says on Dr Yunus case

Alpha Eye Studios Limited, a media company, has accused actor Ziaul Faruq Apurba of breach of contract and embezzling money. According to the media company, Apurba signed a contract for 24 dramas with the company. The actor took Tk 33 lakh of the Tk 50 lakh contract. However, he only finished 9 dramas. Read more: Sadi Mohammad laid to eternal rest at Mohammadpur Later, Alpha Eye tried to contact him but could not, they said. "My lawyer will provide statements on my behalf. As the legal proceedings are underway, I prefer not to make any comments or discuss the matter further at this time," said the actor. Read more: Most-hyped Bollywood Movies Releasing in April 2024

The High Court on Wednesday asked 17 former and incumbent officials of Biman Bangladesh Airlines to surrender before it within next three weeks in a case over embezzlement of around Tk 1100 crore in the name of taking two  Egyptian aircraft on lease. An HC bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Aminul Islam passed the order after hearing an interim bail petition. Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan stood for Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in the court while counsel ARM Hasanuzzaman represented the accused. The accused are Biman Flight Operations Director Captain Ishrat Ahmed, Deputy Engineer Md Shafiqul Alam Siddique, Director General Md Abdur Rahman Fukoy, former chief Engineers Shaheed Uddin Mohammad Hanifi and Devesh Chowdhury, Engineer Md Sadekur Rahman and DGM Kamal Uddin Ahmed, among others.   All the 17accused appeared before the court with bail petitions while they were asked to surrender before it after rejecting the bail prayer. ACC Deputy Director Jesmin Akter filed the case accusing the former and incumbent officers of corruption on February 6 this year. According to the case statement, the accused in collaboration with each other misappropriated Tk 1000.61 crore in the name of taking two Egyptian aircraft on lease through misuse of their power. Engines of two Boeing-777 and-200 aircrafts of ER model went out of order one year after those were brought for five years on lease in 2014. Another engine from Egypt was also flown to operate the previous engines but it also went out of order around one and a half years of its arrival. The government had to incur a Tk 1100 crore loss over five years. These irregularities were found in an investigation carried out by the parliamentary standing committee on civil aviation and tourism ministry. Later, the committee asked the ACC to conduct more investigation into the irregularities. Read more: Biman MD's office assistant involved in question paper leak: DB chief

A Chattogram court on Monday sentenced two people including a former banker for several years in a case over the embezzlement of Tk 50 lakh from accounts of customers from 2014 to 2019. The court of Chattogram Divisional Special Judge Munshi Abdul Majid also fined the convicts, said Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Mahmudul Hoque, also public prosecutor of the court. Of the convicts, the port city’s OR Nizam Road Branch former Manager of private Eastern Bank Md Iftekharul Kabir was sentenced 26 years’ imprisonment and fined Tk 1.04 crore, in default of which he will have to serve three more years’ jail. Apart from this, one Nishat Enterprise owner Mahmudul Hasan, a resident of the city’s Khulshi area, was awarded 13 years jail and fined Tk 76.30 lakh, otherwise he will have to stay in jail for 16 more months. to the case, the banker in collaboration with Hasan misappropriated Tk 50 lakh from FDR accounts of Ananya Barua, Rupon Ksihore Barua and Suprova Barua after opening a fake account from 2014 to 2019. Read more: Tk 3,700cr Embezzlement: HC wants to know steps taken against 5 Bangladesh Bank deputy governorsNurul Islam, deputy assistant director of ACC at Chattogram integrated office, filed a case against the duo on November 17, 2019. The court on Monday delivered the judgment in presence of the accused upon completion of all legal procedures, the PP added.

The High Court on Sunday ordered the authorities concerned to investigate the allegation of Tk 1500 embezzlement by Mohammad Yeasin Chowdhury, Managing Director of FMC dockyard Limited. The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat ordered Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate the allegation within two weeks. The HC bench passed the suo moto order when ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam drew attention of the court after attaching a report published in a vernacular daily on January 5 headlined ‘Yeasin in abroad after embezzling Tk 1500 crore’. Also read: High Court asks government to urgently appoint five recommended BCS cadres The court also issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the ineffectiveness of the respondents in taking action against MD Yeasin should not be declared illegal. The court also fixed March 9 for next hearing. Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik represented the state. According to the newspaper report, MD Yeasin embezzled Tk 1500 crore from different banks and financial institutions and fled the country. A number of cases were filed against him in Chattogram and an arrest warrant was also issued against him. MD Yeasin took loans of Tk 1,243 crore from a number of banks. Besides, he owes Tk 113.83 crore to Bismillah Marine Services.  

The High Court on Thursday asked Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) authority to give an explanation over the embezzlement of 72,000 tonnes of imported chemical fertilisers that caused the government a loss of Tk 582 crore. The HC bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat passed the order on a suo moto move after taking a report published in a national daily into cognizance. BCIC chairman has been asked to submit an explanation in this regard on January 20. Read more: HC questions legality of primary school teacher recruitment on quota basis Besides, the court ordered the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate the matter and submit a report within 60 days. The HC also issued a rule questioning why the failure and negligence of the authorities concerned to take action against those involved in the embezzlement should not be declared illegal. Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan appeared for the ACC in the court while Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin Manik and Assistant Attorney General Anna Khanam Koli represented the state. A national daily published a report today (Thursday) stating that Poton Traders, the contractor in charge of transportation, has allegedly embezzled 72,000 tonnes of government imported chemical fertilisers without delivering them to the warehouse after release from the port. The government has suffered a financial loss of Tk 582 crore for this embezzlement. Read more: HC issues rule on migration system in admission process Former Member of Parliament Kamrul Ashraf Khan (Poton) is the owner of Potton Traders. The fertiliser embezzlement by Potton Traders has come to light in two investigations by the BCIC, a government body under the Ministry of Industry that imports  fertilizer. The fertilisers were released between November, 2021 and May 15, 2022. BCIC has not taken any legal action even after seven months of non-supply of fertiliser. BCIC sent a letter to the Ministry of Industries December 20 last year seeling  instructions for taking legal action.

Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday arrested the chief assistant (cashier) of Tejgaon Thana Health Complex  Anisur Rahman for embezzling Tk 43 crore. ACC Secretary Mahbub Hossain told reporters at the ACC headquarters on Tuesday. He said that a team led by the investigating officer of the two cases Deputy director SMM Akhtar Hamid Bhuyan arrested them at 12 noon. ACC Deputy Director (Public Relations) Muhammad Arif Sadek said that the money was embezzled through fake bill-vouchers in the project of setting up two medical college hospitals.  ACC filed two separate cases against three persons including Chief Assistant of Tejgaon Thana Health Complex. Anisur Rahman on October 23 this year. Read more: ACC arrests 3 govt officials on graft charges Two cases were filed with the ACC's Integrated District Office, Dhaka-1. The other defendants in the case are M Jahan Traders owner Mohsin Ali and the owner of Green Traders Mahfuz Huda Setu According to the ACC sources, in the first case, the accused have been accused of withdrawing and embezzling TK 21 crore 83 lakh 28 thousand 512 through three fake bill-vouchers in the Sheikh Saira Khatun Medical College, Medical College Hospital and Nursing College establishment project of Gopalganj. In the second case, an allegation of embezzlement of Tk. 21 crore 84 lakh was made from the government treasury through four fake bills in the project 'Shaheed M. Mansoor Ali College and 500-bed Medical College Hospital in Sirajganj' The money was embezzled between 12 and 20 June 2022. Read more: ACC sues Khulna food inspector, wife  

The High Court today asked the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to inform on the steps taken by Bangladesh Bank against its 5 accused deputy governors and other officials involved in the embezzlement of Tk 3,700 crore. The court asked the ACC to inform on the steps within October 27. The HC bench of Justice Nazrul Islam Talukder and Khijir Hayat verbally pronounced the order, after taking a recently published report in daily newspaper ‘Kalbela’ into cognizance. Read: Banks must display citizen charter to ensure transparency: Bangladesh Bank Lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan represented the ACC during the hearing while Deputy Attorney General AKM Amin Uddin represented the state. DAG Amin Uddin said the bench asked the lawyers to read the report and present their statements before the hearing began today. According to the report, 249 officials of Bangladesh Bank, including five deputy governors, were involvement with the financial scam of Bangladesh Industrial Finance Company Ltd (BIFC) and International Leasing and Financial Services Ltd (ILFSL). With the help of these officials of three departments of the central bank, Prashanta Kumar Halder and Major (retd) Mannan embezzled a hefty amount of money which was revealed in a report of a high-powered probe committee formed at the directive of the High Court. Two reports in this regard have already been submitted to the central bank’s governor, it said. Tk 3700 crore was embezzled, taking loans from 2 capital market-enlisted financial organizations: BIFC and ILFSL. Out of this, from ILFSL, Tk 3,130 crore was taken against the name of PK Halder, who is currently imprisoned in India, and his various organizations. From BIFC, Major (retd) Abdul Mannan, Secretary General of Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh, and his organization embezzled Tk 600 crore. This plundering was going on for several years but the insiders of these organization and the responsible officials of Bangladesh Bank remained silent about the matter, said the report. Read:Govt securities to trial trading in secondary market next week: Bangladesh Bank Governor Three deputy governors, 6 executive directors, 11 general managers (GMs) and 15 deputy general managers (DGMs) and 124 other officials at various levels who served in the Financial Institutions and Markets Department of Bangladesh Bank from 2009 to 2020 were held responsible in the report. Besides, a total of 51 people including two deputy governors and executive directors of the Bank and Financial Institutions Inspection Department have been held responsible. Also name of two deputy governors, eight executive directors, five GMs and a total of 29 officials of the financial institution inspection department came up in this report.

A Khulna court on Tuesday sent an industrialist to jail in a case filed over embezzling Tk 18 crore from the corporate branch of Sonali Bank in Khulna. The accused is Md Salauddin, managing director of Star Sea Food Limited. Khulna Metropolitan Session Special Judge Mahmuda Khatun passed the order after turning down his bail plea in the case, said Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) lawyer Khandaker Mujibur Rahman. Lawyer Lutful Kabir Nowroz and lawyer Selim Howladar appeared for the state in the court. On August 16 last year, the ACC Deputy Director (Khulna) Md Shaon Miah filed the case against five individuals in the Khulna Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court. Read: Loan scam: 7 ex-Sonali Bank officials, 2 others get 17 years jail Md Salauddin, the bank's godown keeper Abdul Mannan Hawladar and grade-2 officer Abdur Rahman Babu were made accused in the case. On April 28 in 2018, the ACC's investigation showed that Md Salauddin embezzled the loan of Tk 18 crore 50 lakh borrowed from Sonali Bank. The collateral against this loan was the exportable shrimp kept in the company’s godown. The bank appointed Abdul Mannan Hawladar and supporting staff Abdur Rahman Babu for godown maintenance as long as the company does not pay back their loan. However, Managing Director (MD) of Star Sea Food Industries Limited Md Salauddin in collusion with Mannan sold all the exportable shrimps in the local market from July 15 to August 10 of 2017. The then deputy general manager of the bank Abu Hossain Sheikh found out about the secret fish sale and filed a case with the local police station at that time. Salahuddin was on bail, said lawyer Mujibur.