The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has initiated an investigation into allegations of corruption involving Major General (retd) Tarique Ahmed Siddique, former defense adviser to ex-prime minister Sheikh Hasina, along with his wife, daughter, and two nieces.
Speaking at the ACC headquarters in Dhaka’s Segunbagicha on Wednesday, ACC Director General (Prevention) Akhter Hossain confirmed the development.
The accusations include abuse of power, embezzlement of land, money laundering, and the accumulation of illicit assets both domestically and abroad.
The ACC will examine these claims as part of its ongoing inquiry.
The individuals under scrutiny include Tarique Ahmed Siddique’s wife, Shaheen Siddique, his daughter, Bushra Siddique, and Sheikh Rehana’s daughters, Tulip Rizwana Siddiq and Azmína Siddiq (Ruponti).
Tulip and Azmina are nieces of Tarique Ahmed Siddique.
On October 22, the bank accounts of Tarique Ahmed Siddique and his family members were frozen.
The Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), under the central bank, directed all banks and financial institutions to comply with this order.
Additionally, Akhter Hossain disclosed that the ACC has launched a probe against Saima Wazed Putul, Sheikh Hasina's daughter, regarding allegations of influence-peddling.
It is alleged that Sheikh Hasina, during her tenure as prime minister, misused her authority to secure Saima Wazed’s appointment as the South-East Asia regional director of the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to the commission sources, commission is also investigating corruption allegations against former principal secretary to the prime minister, Tofazzel Hossain Miah.
