The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh carried out a raid on the registered address of the Suchona Foundation, an organization established by Saima Wazed (Putul), the daughter of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

However, the raid, which took place on Wednesday, found no trace of the foundation at the listed location, raising additional concerns about the organization’s operations and Putul’s financial activities.

The raid was initiated in response to allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption within the foundation.

Specifically, accusations pointed to the misuse of state funds and irregularities in the foundation’s dealings under the leadership of Saima Wazed and several other individuals associated with it.

The ACC’s team began their investigation by reviewing the foundation's registration records, which were obtained from the Dhaka District Social Services Office.

Following this, they visited the foundation’s registered address, located in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, but reported that there was no sign of the organization at that location.

Despite this, the commission has promised to continue their investigation.

As part of their probe, the ACC also sought out documents related to tax exemptions granted to the Suchona Foundation.

They acquired Statutory Regulatory Orders (SROs) from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and found preliminary evidence that the foundation has been granted income tax exemptions on all of its earnings since 2016.

These earnings include interest from bank deposits, consultancy fees, and research fees, leading to further questions about the foundation’s financial transparency.

The commission plans to submit a detailed report to the ACC once all evidence is thoroughly reviewed.

The investigation into the Suchona Foundation is part of a broader scrutiny of Saima Wazed’s activities.

Earlier this week, the ACC disclosed that Saima Wazed was a Canadian citizen when she was nominated for the position of Regional Director for the World Health Organization (WHO) in South-East Asia, a role she currently holds.

The ACC claims that the information she provided about her eligibility for the position was inaccurate and raised concerns about her credibility.

Additionally, the ACC has raised credible corruption allegations against Wazed, accusing her of using her influence to benefit the Suchona Foundation.

According to the commission, Wazed allegedly secured financial support for the organization by leveraging her connections with various social and business institutions, receiving both gifts and funds.

As the investigation continues, the public and political circles are closely watching the developments, particularly given the high-profile nature of the individuals involved.

The ACC's findings could have broader implications for both the Wazed family and the ongoing fight against corruption in Bangladesh, said experts concerned.

Sources within the ACC have alleged that Saima Wazed used her influence to pressure the NBR into granting tax exemptions for the foundation’s funds.

In a related development, on November 24, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), the financial monitoring arm of the Central Bank, ordered the freezing of the Suchona Foundation’s bank accounts.

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