News Flash
DHAKA, Jan 29, 2025 (BSS) - The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has not found any existence of 'Suchona Foundation', a non-profitable voluntary organization founded by deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s daughter Saima Wazed Putul, at the address mentioned in the documents of the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the Department of Social Services.
ACC Deputy Director and Public Relations Officer Akhtarul Islam today told the newsmen that a four-member investigation team led by ACC Assistant Director Naushad Ali visited the scene at Sudha Sadan in Dhanmondi here.
Against the backdrop of the allegation of embezzling state funds through irregularities and corruption by its president and several others of the foundation but the committee did not get any existence of the organization there.
During the spot visit, the ACC team first collected and reviewed the foundation’s registration records from the Dhaka District Social Services Office. Later, they physically visited the official address of the foundation.
Saima Wazed Putul is the Regional Director for South-East Asia of the World Health Organization (WHO).
Last Sunday, the ACC claimed that Saima Wazed was a Canadian citizen when she was nominated for the WHO post. Besides, the information she provided regarding her qualifications was not correct.
Apart from this, the anti-graft watchdog also said there are credible corruption allegations against her in this connection.
Saima Wazed abused her influence to obtain financial benefits for the ‘Suchona Foundation’, as well as accepting gifts and funds from various social and business organizations, it is alleged.
The ACC said Saima Wazed exerted undue influence on the NBR to withdraw taxes for the foundation's entitled funds.
Earlier, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), the central bank's financial intelligence wing, on November 24 issued an order for freezing all bank accounts of the “Suchona Foundation”.
