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ACC Files Case Against Joy, Putul and Six Others in CRI Scam
Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Saima Wazed Putul.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed a case today against eight individuals, including Centre for Research and Information (CRI) chairman Sajeeb Wazed Joy and vice-chairperson Saima Wazed Putul, over alleged tax evasion, embezzlement of state funds, and money laundering linked to implementing political agendas.
ACC Director General Md Akhtar Hossain announced the development during a routine press briefing.
Others named in the case include Radwan Mujib Siddiq, CRI trustee and son of Sheikh Rehana; former State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, also a trustee; CRI Executive Director Sabbir Bin Shams; National Board of Revenue (NBR) member Rowshan Ara Akhter; former NBR chairman Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiya; and former Finance Minister ANH Mustafa Kamal.
According to the ACC, the accused allegedly misused provisions of the Income Tax Ordinance-1984 to secure tax exemptions for CRI, despite the organisation not being registered with the Department of Social Services.
The commission said CRI, which claimed to be a non-profit working for public welfare, unlawfully received tax benefits, causing significant financial losses to the government.
The inquiry also found that the accused pressured and lobbied various institutions to obtain grants, with CRI reportedly receiving Tk 45.35 crore from 23 companies.
Between the 2013–14 and 2023–24 fiscal years, CRI reportedly earned Tk 100.31 crore, with a shortfall of Tk 15.68 crore after deducting legitimate expenditures.
The ACC further stated that CRI conducted suspicious financial transactions totaling Tk 439.07 crore through 25 bank accounts, with Tk 247.85 crore deposited and Tk 191.21 crore withdrawn.
Non-payment of Tk 36.52 lakh in income tax was also noted as a violation of section 11(B) of part-B of schedule-6 of the Income Tax Ordinance-1984.
The commission added that the transfer, conversion, and misappropriation of these funds constituted money laundering under the Money Laundering Prevention Act-2012.
The case was filed under section 409/109 of the Bangladesh Penal Code, section 5(2) of the Corruption Prevention Act-1947, and sub-sections two and three of section 4 of the Money Laundering Prevention Act-2012.