ACC launches investigation against Shakib over illicit wealth

The Anti-Corruption Commission has launched an investigation against star cricketer Shakib Al Hasan, the former brand ambassador of the national anti-graft agency and Magura-1 seat MP, on allegations involving possession of wealth beyond known sources of income and money laundering.

A two-strong team led by ACC Deputy Director Mahbubul Alam and including Assistant Director Md Ashikur Rahman was formed on Apr 9 to look into the allegations.

An order has already been given to investigate the allegations against Shakib and submit a report.

ACC spokesperson Akhtarul Islam confirmed bdnews24.com about the start of the investigation, but could not provide details.

A senior ACC official, who did not want to be named, said that as part of the investigation, a letter had already been sent to the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), seeking the investigation report against the 38-year-old Shakib.

On Apr 6, ACC Chairman Mohammad Abdul Momen said multiple allegations of “irregularities and corruption” against the allrounder were being investigated.

The agency signed an agreement with Shakib in 2018 to appoint him as the brand ambassador of the anti-graft watchdog.

Also, the ACC worked with him during the inauguration of Hotline-106.

The ACC had informed Shakib that it would let him go from the role in 2022 after allegations surfaced linking him to different “irregularities”.

Shakib was elected to the 12th National Parliament, which was dissolved following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime over the July-August mass uprising, on an Awami League ticket.

On Aug 28 last year, Supreme Court lawyer Milhanur Rahman Naomi filed a petition with the ACC to investigate the allegations against Shakib.

In the petition, Shakib was accused of “stock market scam, involvement in banned gambling business and gambling establishments, involvement in gold smuggling, embezzling money from crab traders through fraud, corruption in cricket and concealing information about assets in election affidavits”.

On Nov 8 last year, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) announced the freezing of Shakib’s bank accounts.

He has also been named as an accused in a murder case filed alongside ousted prime minister Hasina in connection with the death of garment worker Rubel, who was shot in Dhaka's Adabor on Aug 5, the day the government fell.

A lawyer has sent a legal notice to the Bangladesh Cricket Board seeking Shakib’s removal from the national team and to bring him back to the country for the sake of investigating the case.