ACC to probe Hasina over irregularities

The Anti-Corruption Commission has launched an investigation against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina over allegations of wasting hundreds of crores of taka from state funds on foreign trips and obtaining fake doctorate degrees.

ACC director general Md Akhtar Hossain disclosed the development at a press conference held at ACC headquarters yesterday. He said a formal decision was made to proceed with the inquiry after initial evidence was found during the ACC's intelligence investigation.

According to the ACC, Hasina used to charter Biman's aircraft for her foreign trips at the government's expense, accompanied by a large entourage.

She traveled to different countries using Biman's Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft. Between 2019 and mid-2024 alone, the national flag carrier operated 48 VVIP flights for Hasina, spending a total Tk 250 crore.

Hasina reportedly spent Tk 200 crore from the state's fund on these foreign trips.

On September 18, 2021, her VVIP Biman flight for New York included a two-day stopover in Finland instead of being a direct flight, resulting in additional expenditure of Tk 7 crore, said Biman sources.

Notably, as of 2023, the government owed approximately Tk 500 crore to Biman.

Moreover, Hasina allegedly obtained fake doctorate degrees from different foreign universities by hiring lobbyists using state funds to bypass academic standards.

Some of those degrees were reportedly obtained through excessive spending or deals contrary to national interests, including those from Tripura University, Catholic University of Brussels, and Visva-Bharati University.