India has refrained from commenting further on deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's extradition request, though Bangladesh is awaiting a reply from India. "You know, a week back, I had confirmed that we have received a communication from the Bangladesh authorities in respect of former PM Sheikh Hasina. Further than that, I have nothing to add at this point in time," said Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson at the Ministry of External Affairs. He made the remarks when a journalist wanted to know specifically about the issue during a weekly media briefing in New Delhi on Thursday. CA Dr Yunus pays tribute to Manmohan Singh at Indian High Commission Interim government adviser Mahfuj Alam on Sunday said they heard that India would not return her. "Our observation is that they have made a political decision that they will not return her. We are hearing as such," the adviser said. Bangladesh was supposed to send a reminder after a certain period if no reply is received from New Delhi. “Surely, we will wait until a certain period. The diplomatic letter (note verbale) was handed over on Monday only. A reminder will be given writing again if no reply comes (from Indian side),” spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Rafiqul Alam told reporters while responding to a question at the weekly briefing recently. He said the government will take the next step based on the reply from the Indian side. "At this moment, we won’t make any comments as we will wait for the reply.” Hasina is facing over 100 cases with a wide range of charges, including murder, genocide and crimes against humanity in charge of killings during the July uprising that led to make her flee to India on August 5. Bangladesh and India signed an extradition treaty in 2013, which was later amended in 2016, providing a legal framework for such requests. India, Bangladesh set to exchange apprehended fishermen in humanitarian repatriation effort In July 2016, Bangladesh and India amended Article 10 (3) of their bilateral extradition treaty to facilitate the swift extradition of fugitive criminals between the two nations. Meanwhile, a Chattogram court on Thursday rejected the bail application of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sammilito Sanatan Jagran Jote and former ISKCON leader, in a sedition case. Responding to a question on Chinmoy’s bail rejection, Jaiswal on Thursday reiterated that it is their expectation that the ongoing proceedings in Bangladesh will be ensured that the individuals who have been arrested receive a fair trial. "This is our expectation."

The BNP on Thursday demanded that the interim government make public all the contracts signed in the power and energy sectors during the 15 years of Sheikh Hasina's rule. "I urge the interim government to disclose every contract signed in the power sector over the past 15 years... they (AL govt) flouted all public procurement rules. These contracts were awarded through closed tenders, bypassing the legal procedures according to their own preferences. The people have a right to know these details," said BNP leader Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku. He made the demand while speaking at a press conference organised by the BNP at the party chairperson’s office in Gulshan. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also spoke at the press meet. Tuku, a BNP standing committee member and former state minister for power, said the nation wants to see the deals signed with various local and international companies in the power and energy sectors. Those who fear people’s verdict spreading confusion: Tarique "How they (AL govt) made these contracts should be made public... The first task of the interim government is to disclose these contracts," he said. The BNP leader said Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government has exploited the people of Bangladesh by creating an illusion in the electricity sector, while simultaneously draining the pockets of the public. "Everyone pays the electricity bill, and everyone is a victim. In fact, they turned power into a business sector... they realised that quick money could be made from this sector without any accountability, because electricity is like 'air' — it cannot be seen," he said. Tuku stated that around Tk 1,00,000 crore has been looted in the name of capacity charges during the Awami League regime. Presenting corruption statistics in the power sector, Tuku said, "The total expenditure over the last 15 years in the power sector is approximately Tk 3,33,940 crore. Of this, around Tk 1,00,000 crore has been looted under the guise of capacity charges." He said the government simply siphoned off public money from the power sector in various ways, including making payments to private power plants even though they were not operational. The former state minister for power further said, "Most of the machines at the companies receiving capacity charges were faulty. These companies made money from these malfunctioning machines." Presenting a list of the top five companies that received capacity charges, he said Summit Group received Tk 10,630 crore, Agro International Tk 7,932 crore, Ultra Power Holdings Tk 7,523 crore, United Group Tk 6,575 crore, and RPCPL Tk 5,117 crore. Under the guise of importing electricity from India, Tuku said a total of Tk 11,115 crore has been paid in capacity charges over the last 9 years. People to get back their country’s ownership soon: Moyeen Khan He alleged that a huge amount of money has also been plundered in the name of quick rental power plants over the last 15 years. Tuku claimed that the developments in the electricity sector during the Awami League government are unsustainable and may collapse at any moment. He also alleged that Sheikh Hasina and her family plundered $500 million from the Russia-backed Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project. Besides, he said an Awami Syndicate had looted large sums of money and siphoned it abroad through the smart meter project. Tuku accused a company owned by former state minister for power Nasrul Hamid Bipu, along with a syndicate, of embezzling crores of taka in the name of LNG projects. In order to prevent corruption and irregularities in the power sector, he stressed the need for increasing public participation in the project implementation process to ensure transparency and accountability. He also called for enacting strict laws to prevent corruption and taking action against those involved in corruption in the power sector. Addressing the press conference, Mirza Fakhrul Islam said, “It seems to us that the most corruption in the power and energy sector occurred during the 16 years of Awami League rule.” In response to a question, he said if their party returns to power, they will thoroughly review the corruption and irregularities in the power sector and take appropriate actions accordingly.

The graffiti of Sheikh Hasina on a metro rail pillar near Raju Sculpture on Dhaka University campus, which was partially painted over by workers, has been redrawn, and students have thrown shoes at it. On Sunday night (December 29), various student organizations of Dhaka University and the Anti-discrimination Student Movement redrew the graffiti. Today at 1 pm, students threw shoes at the image. The image of Sheikh Hasina had originally been drawn on the metro rail pillar during the Awami League’s tenure. After the government's fall due to the student uprising on August 5, the image was defaced and shoes were placed on it. The defaced image became a symbol of public anger and hatred. DU Proctor's Office apologizes for painting over Hasina’s defaced graffiti on metro rail pillar When the image was partially painted over on Saturday, following authorization from the university administration, students expressed outrage and demanded the resignation of the proctor. Later, on Sunday, the Dhaka University administration issued an apology in a press release, calling it an “unintentional mistake,” and reaffirmed their commitment to preserving the memories of the July uprising. Postgraduate doctors block Shahbagh again for raising allowance The graffiti of Sheikh Hasina was redrawn by Shimul Kumbhakar, vice president of the central committee of Bangladesh Chhatra Union; Mridha Rayan, a member of Chhatra Union at the Faculty of Fine Arts; and Momin Mukhtar Shobuj, former publicity secretary of Chhatra Federation.

Bangladesh is expecting a reply from India regarding its request for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s extradition and will send a reminder after a certain period if no reply is received from New Delhi, said a spokesperson on Tuesday. “Surely, we will wait until a certain period. The diplomatic letter (note verbale) was handed over on Monday only. A reminder will be given writing again if no reply comes (from Indian side),” spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Rafiqul Alam told reporters while responding to a question at the weekly briefing. He said the government will take the next step based on the reply from the Indian side. "At this moment we won’t make any comments as we will wait for the reply.” “If you look at the extradition treaty and so far I remember, there is no mention about time limit,” said the spokesperson, adding that they have not received any reply from the Indian side as of now. Dhaka seeks Hasina’s extradition, sends letter to Delhi   The spokesperson at India’s Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal on Monday confirmed that they received the extradition request for Sheikh Hasina from the interim government of Bangladesh. "We confirm that we have received a Note Verbale from the Bangladesh High Commission today in connection with an extradition request," he said, adding that at this time, they have no comment to offer on this matter. Hasina is facing over 100 cases with a wide range of charges, including murder, genocide and crimes against humanity in charge of killings during the July uprising that led to make her flee to India on August 5. Bangladesh and India signed an extradition treaty in 2013, which was later amended in 2016, providing a legal framework for such requests. In July 2016, Bangladesh and India amended Article 10 (3) of their bilateral Extradition Treaty to facilitate the swift extradition of fugitive criminals between the two nations. On December 8, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said they would formally approach India seeking former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's extradition after completing the required legal procedures. "Our government's position on the extradition of Sheikh Hasina is very clear. We want to bring Sheikh Hasina back to the country to face the law," he said during a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy. The interim government claims that Hasina was the key person who passed the order in the "massacre" that took place during her tenure, killing more than 1,500 people during the July-August period. ACC to reinvestigate Padma Bridge corruption case against Sheikh Hasina In September, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus said Hasina should be extradited and brought to justice if she committed crimes. "Why shouldn't she be? If she committed crimes, she should be extradited and brought to justice… she should be facing justice, too," he said while responding to a question at "The New York Times Climate Forward Event." On November 12, Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Advocate Md Tajul Islam wrote to Inspector General of Police Md Moinul Islam, urging the issuance of a red notice through Interpol to secure the return of Sheikh Hasina and other fugitives. Earlier, on October 17, a three-member ICT bench led by its Chairman, Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mazumdar, issued arrest warrants for 46 people, including Sheikh Hasina and former minister Obaidul Quader, in separate cases.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday decided to reinvestigate the Padma Bridge corruption and conspiracy case and the Bangabandhu Novo Theater corruption case against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. ACC Director General (Prevention) Akhter Hossain briefed the media on development of the investigation into the corruption involving Sheikh Hasina and her family members at Segunbagicha in the capital. The ACC investigation team said that a letter has been sent to the secretary of the Chief Adviser seeking information in the investigation into Sheikh Hasina's embezzlement of Tk 21,000 crore in mega eight projects. “An investigation team has been formed. The members of the investigation team are writing letters to various offices to collect documentary evidence,” the ACC Director General (Prevention) added. Saying that it is part of their investigation, he said after receiving the information, the members of the team will review it. Along with this, the supporting documents to prove the allegations and the people involved in the allegations will be questioned in this regard. Read: Tk 6,75,000 crore blackhole in banking: Enough to build 13 Dhaka Metros or 22 Padma Bridges Meanwhile, the ACC has written to the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) to summon all the documents of the domestic and foreign transactions of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, her sister Sheikh Rehana, and Rehana’s daughter and British minister Tulip Siddique. In the letter sent by the ACC head office today, the investigation team has asked for detailed information on all accounts, including offshore bank statements operated in the names of the suspects. In addition, the investigation team has summoned personal documents of the people involved in the allegations in the first phase and has summoned documents from the Election Commission, the Immigration and Passport Office. Soon, letters will be sent to some more government and private institutions, summoning documents. Earlier, on December 18, the ACC formed a five-member team to investigate the corruption allegations against Sheikh Hasina and her family members. The team to investigate the corruption involving Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed, sister Sheikh Rehana, and Rehana’s daughter Tulip Siddique will be led by ACC Deputy Director Md Salahuddin while the other members of the team are Deputy Director Md. Saiduzzaman, Assistant Director Afnan Jannat Keya, S.M. Rashedul Hasan and AKM Mortuza Ali Sagar. Read more: Lawyer who threw eggs at Anisul Huq, Salman F Rahman dies in accident on Padma Bridge This ACC team is investigating allegations of corruption worth Tk 21,000 crore in eight special priority projects of the previous Awami League government while it will also investigate corruption worth Tk 59,000 crore in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a diplomatic letter to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in an effort to bring former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina back. "We have informed India," Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain told reporters on Monday, referring to the note verbale addressed to India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Spokesperson at the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal has confirmed that they have received the extradition request for Sheikh Hasina from the interim government of Bangladesh. "We confirm that we have received a Note Verbale from the Bangladesh High Commission today in connection with an extradition request," he said, adding that at this time, they have no comment to offer on this matter. On December 8, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said they would formally approach India seeking former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's extradition after completing the required legal procedures. "Our government's position on the extradition of Sheikh Hasina is very clear. We want to bring Sheikh Hasina back to the country to face the law," he said during a media briefing at the Foreign Service Academy. The interim government claims that Hasina was the key person who passed the order in the "massacre" that took place during her tenure, killing more than 1,500 people in July-August. Bangladesh has an extradition treaty with India. In September, Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus said former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should be extradited and brought to justice if she committed crimes. "Why shouldn't she be? If she committed crimes, she should be extradited and brought to justice… She should be facing justice too," he said while responding to a question at "The New York Times Climate Forward Event." On November 12, Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) Advocate Md Tajul Islam wrote to Inspector General of Police Md Moinul Islam, urging the issuance of a red notice through Interpol to secure the return of Sheikh Hasina and other fugitives. Earlier, on October 17, a three-member ICT bench led by its Chairman, Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mazumdar, issued arrest warrants for 46 people, including Sheikh Hasina and former minister Obaidul Quader, in separate cases. Among SAARC member countries, India has extradition treaties with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, as well as an extradition arrangement with Sri Lanka. In July 2016, Bangladesh and India amended Article 10 (3) of their bilateral Extradition Treaty to facilitate the swift extradition of fugitive criminals between the two nations. Sheikh Hasina is facing multiple charges, including murder, following the formation of an interim government on August 8, after her resignation on August 5.

The Anti-Corruption Commission has initiated an enquiry into allegations of corruption, embezzlement and money laundering in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project. A special team of five ACC officials are conducting the entire probe. Ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and niece Tulip Siddiq allegedly embezzled $5 billion from ‘overpriced’ $12.65 billion Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant through various offshore bank accounts in Malaysia, said the Chief Adviser’s press wing quoting the ACC.   It is alleged that these people siphoned off substantial amounts of money through various offshore accounts in Malaysia, following questionable procurement practices related to construction of the entire nuclear plant, it said. New ACC chief discloses his wealth, income and liabilities to the media The claims of kickbacks, mismanagement, money laundering and potential abuse of power raise significant concerns about the integrity of the project and the use of public funds, it said.  Allegations against Tulip’s Family Tulip’s paternal uncle, Tarique Ahmed Siddique, is the Security Adviser to the ex-prime minister, his wife and daughter are stakeholders in a fake company named Prochchaya Limited (Incorporation Certificate Number C-75659/09, dated March 25, 2009). This company, in affiliation with a slash fund cheat fund company named Destiny Group, had laundered around $900 million to different countries, including the United Kingdom and has opened a company named Zumana Investment & Properties Limited [Incorporation Certificate Number 7417417, dated October 25, 2010] in the United Kingdom. Various newspapers claim in the UK and worldwide that Labour Party MP Tulip Siddiq has maintained discrete connections with Moscow since she met Russian President Putin.  Allegation against Hasina, Joy The ACC on Sunday decided to conduct an inquiry into the allegation against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy over laundering $300mn to the United States and the United Kingdom. ACC to probe graft allegations against Hasina, family members The name of Joy first came up as a money laundering suspect in the United States versus Rizvi Ahmed case in 2014, the CA’s press wing said, quoting the ACC. Later, a probe conducted by a powerful US intelligence agency uncovered serious financial scams involving Joy. It has also noted that in particular, information emerged that money was being laundered from various offshore bank accounts in Hong Kong and the Cayman Islands in his name to various bank accounts in Washington and New York in the United States and London in the United Kingdom through a local money exchange entity.  The US intelligence agency also confirmed the matter through their London representative and found evidence of serious financial irregularities and money laundering committed by Joy. It has also been mentioned that Linda Samuels, Senior Trial Attorney of the Department of Justice, contacted Special Agent La Prevot and found that $300 million was deposited from Bangladesh to various bank accounts in the United States.  Tk 80,000 crore Graft in Nine Projects Moreover, the commission has initiated a new enquiry against Sheikh Hasina, son Sajeeb Wazed, her younger sister Sheikh Rehana and Rehana’s daughter and British minister Tulip Siddiq into corruption allegations involving Tk 80,000 crore. BFIU summons bank account details of Sheikh Hasina, Rehana The alleged corruption involving Tk 80,000 crore occurred in nine projects, including the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and the Special Ashrayan Project during the Awami League government between 2009 and 2023. Recently, the ACC special enquiry team has collected the preliminary identity documents from the Election Commission office and from Immigration and Passport Department. A special requisition report has been sent to Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) for supplying relevant documents and statements of offshore bank accounts running by the name of the suspected persons.

Tulip Siddiq, a UK Labour Minister and niece of ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina,  has been questioned over claims she and her family members embezzled £4bn(around Tk 60,000 crore) from a power plant project in Bangladesh.  The Cabinet Office propriety and ethics team questioned Tulip Siddiq on Sunday over the allegation, reports The Telegraph. Tulip Siddiq, is facing investigation over claims that she and four family members embezzled £4 billion through Roopur Nuke Power Plant Deal in Bangladesh. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has stood by Tulip, who denies the claims and said no authority has contacted her so far about the allegations. Labour party officials described the claims as “spurious” and made for political reasons by opponents of Hasina. Read: Tulip Siddiq appointed as Economic Secretary to the Treasury in Starmer's new administration In October, National Crime Agency (NCA) investigators visited Bangladesh to “support” its anti-corruption probes. A Tory MP has written to the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner asking them to launch a probe into Tulip over the allegations. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in Bangladesh decided to start probe the embezzlement allegation against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and niece Tulip Siddiq recently following a High Court order. Tulip Siddiq, 42, the Treasury's Economic Secretary, is responsible for tackling corruption in UK financial markets. The Mail on Sunday reported that five investigators are gathering "documentary evidence" related to Tulip and others, and are expected to contact them within weeks for their responses. The report stated that the ACC would send any correspondence to her through the British High Commission in Dhaka. Read more: ‘Will never stop fighting’: Tulip Siddiq Citing anonymous officials, the paper noted that once responses are received, investigators will decide whether to file First Information Reports.

Internet services across the country were shut down during the quota reform movement as per the advice of Sheikh Hasina, said former State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak on Thursday. Palak revealed this information during an interrogation at the safe house of the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) investigation agency on Thursday, said ICT prosecutor Tajul Islam while talking to reporters. While testifying before the ICT investigation agency, Palak admitted that the internet shutdown was an attempt to suppress information about the July-August mass killings. The order to shut down internet services came directly from former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said. Zunaid Ahmed Palak hospitalized while on remand He clarified that the internet was not shut down due to accidents or fires during the uprising. All domestic and international internet gateways were closed under Sheikh Hasina's directive to prevent information about the genocide from spreading, Palak added. On December 12, the ICT approved the interrogation of Palak about the shutdown of the internet during the July-August quota reform movement. Menon, Inu, Palak sent to jail after remand in murder case Zunaid Ahmed Palak was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of police from Nikunja on August 14, and was later shown arrested in 46 cases, and the court granted him a 31-day remand in various cases. He was last remanded in a case filed by Jatrabari Police Station on November 9.  

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) on Tuesday decided to investigate the allegations of Tk 60,000 cr embezzlement against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, her sister Sheikh Rehana, son Sajeeb Wazed Joy and niece Tulip Siddique. ACC spokesperson Aktarul Islam said the decision was taken following a complaint of chairman of Nationalist Democratic Movement Bobby Hajjaj. On December 15, the High Court issued a rule seeking explanation as to why the inaction of the ACC in probing the allegations of graft against Sheikh Hasina, her son Joy and niece Tulip in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project should not be decaled illegal. Read: Enforced Disappearances Commission submits report finding Hasina’s involvement, recommends disbanding RAB The High Court bench of Justice Fahmida Kader and Justice Mubina Asaf issued the rule  following a writ petition in this regard. The writ petition, filed on September 3 by Bobby Hajjaj, Chairman of the National Democratic Movement (NDM), sought an investigation into the alleged embezzlement  of Tk 60,000 crore from the RNPP through a Malaysian bank by them. Fourteen people including Secretary of Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, ACC Chairman, Sheikh Hasina, Sajib Wazed Joy and Tulip Siddique were made respondents to the rule.