Travel ban imposed on 8 directors of Prochchaya over Rooppur 'graft'

A court has imposed a travel ban on eight directors of Prochchaya Ltd, including former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s security advisor Tarique Ahmed Siddique’s brother, wife, and children, over allegations of embezzling nearly Tk 590 billion through corruption in the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project.

On Tuesday, Dhaka Metropolitan Senior Special Judge Md Zakir Hossain Galib issued the order following a petition by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), according to the agency's spokesman Akhtarul Islam

Among those barred from leaving the country is Shafique Ahmed Siddique, who is Tarique's brother and husband of Hasina's younger sister Sheikh Rehana, Tarique's wife Shaheen Siddique and two daughters, Bushra Siddique and Nawreen Tasmia Siddique.

Additionally, former lieutenant colonel Shahid Uddin Khan, his wife Farzana Anjum, and their two daughters have been placed under the travel ban.

Shaheen serves as the chairperson of Prochchhaya Limited, while the others are directors of the company.

Some of the eight individuals are reportedly already abroad. Several others have gone into hiding after the fall of Hasina’s government.

A seven-strong team is currently investigating the alleged misappropriation of around Tk 590 billion from the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant construction project involving Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, her younger sister Rehana, her niece Tulip Siddiq, and others, according to the ACC petition.

"The shareholders of Prochchhaya Limited are secretly attempting to flee the country with their families. If they manage to escape, it would severely hinder access to crucial documents related to the allegations, disrupt the overall investigation process, and cause substantial damage. Therefore, in the interest of a proper investigation, it is necessary to prevent them from leaving the country,” it said.

Earlier, on Jan 28, the court had also issued a travel ban against Tarique.