Dhaka, Dec 24 (V7N) — Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam said on Tuesday that investigating the corruption of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her family is a top priority for the interim government.
In response to a question from journalists, Shafiqul said: "Our work regarding Sheikh Hasina's corruption has already begun. More detailed actions will follow and you will be informed. This is our top priority."


The comments were made during a press briefing at the Foreign Service Academy following a meeting of the advisory council.

When asked how much information the government has gathered about the corruption involving Sheikh Hasina's family, Shafiqul replied: "A summary report from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) regarding Sheikh Hasina has been provided to the media."

"We have already initiated our work based on this. More detailed activities will be revealed soon", he added.

The press secretary said Sheikh Hasina established a "kleptocracy" during her tenure.

"The people of Bangladesh deserve to know who were involved in this grand theft. It is our moral responsibility to inform them. You will certainly learn the extent of her theft soon."

He said: "The white paper indicates that $16 billion was siphoned off every year. This is the money of the Bangladeshi people."

He also emphasized the severity of the bank-related fraud, saying: "The scale of the robbery is evident. We are conducting an in-depth investigation. The theft and plundering that took place during her time will be fully uncovered."

He referred to an earlier report that mentioned a transaction of Tk628 crore, which was initially cited as Tk400 crore in the media.

When asked about the potential return of Sheikh Hasina to face justice, Shafiqul stated: "From our side, the legal process is being expedited. If we are to uphold the rule of law, she must be given the due time in accordance with the law. There are limits to how quickly actions can be taken under the existing legal system in Bangladesh."

He continued: "We are working as swiftly as possible within these boundaries. We continue to call for Sheikh Hasina’s return, and the Foreign Affairs Advisor has spoken on this. We hope her return will happen as soon as possible. Sheikh Hasina will face justice."

He further said: "We have seen the severity of Sheikh Hasina's crimes. The scale of criminal activities in Bangladesh over the past 15 years is unimaginable. The entire world is waking up to the realization of her crimes. Nearly 3,000 people have been victims of enforced disappearances and thousands more have been killed extrajudicially. Approximately 1,500 people died in July and August alone."

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