A national committee formed by Bangladesh’s interim Yunus government has concluded that former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was not involved in any illegal financial transactions linked to alleged corruption in the power sector, effectively clearing her of long-standing accusations.
The committee’s final report, submitted last Tuesday to Power and Energy Adviser Muhammad Fawzul Kabir Khan, was made public on Sunday at a press conference held at Bidyut Bhaban in Dhaka. The findings state that no suspicious or unlawful transactions were detected in any of Sheikh Hasina’s bank accounts or personal financial activities.
According to the report, allegations of irregularities and corruption in major power projects— including the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, the Adani power deal, and the Matarbari power project—were thoroughly investigated. While the committee identified serious irregularities in some contracts, it found no evidence linking Sheikh Hasina personally to any form of financial misconduct.
As a result, the report concludes that attempts to directly implicate her in corruption were “entirely misleading and unfounded,” and politically motivated in nature. It further notes that the investigation effectively affirms her integrity, transparency, and sense of responsibility as head of government.
The committee acknowledged that the contract with India’s Adani Group had contributed to higher electricity prices, creating significant financial pressure on the government. However, despite allegations of corruption surrounding the deal, the report states that no proof was found of Sheikh Hasina’s personal financial involvement.
Professor Moshtaq Hossain Khan of the University of London’s Faculty of Law and Social Sciences, a member of the committee, said at the press conference:
“There is clear evidence of serious irregularities and corruption in the Adani contract. These findings should be shared with Adani to seek their explanation. After that, Bangladesh must move quickly to decide on arbitration proceedings in Singapore. Any delay could weaken our legal position. Legal experts in London have said such strong evidence is rare in international corruption cases.”
In response to a question, Prof Khan added that the committee had found evidence of illegal financial transactions involving seven to eight individuals, amounting to several million dollars. All relevant documents, including travel records, have been handed over to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), which has already begun its own investigation. However, the committee has not yet disclosed the identities of those involved.
Political analysts believe the interim government sought to use the power sector investigation as part of a broader political strategy to damage Sheikh Hasina’s image. They argue that the national committee’s report has backfired on that effort, as the absence of her name in the findings demonstrates that the allegations were driven by political vendetta and propaganda.
Although the report confirms serious wrongdoing by certain individuals and institutions, it clearly states that Sheikh Hasina had no involvement. Analysts say this suggests that an attempt was made to shield the real culprits while politically targeting the former prime minister.
The five-member national committee was formed on September 5, 2024, to review contracts signed under the Speedy Supply of Power and Energy (Special Provisions) Act, 2010. The committee was chaired by retired High Court judge Mainul Islam Chowdhury. Other members included BUET professor Abdul Hasib Chowdhury, former KPMG Bangladesh COO Ali Ashraf, former World Bank lead economist Zahid Hossain, and Professor Moshtaq Hossain Khan.
Under its terms of reference, the committee was authorized to collect information from any source, audit relevant documents, summon individuals or institutions for hearings, and assess whether government interests had been protected in the contracts.
Overall, the committee’s report not only clears Sheikh Hasina of corruption allegations but also exposes what analysts describe as a political attempt to shift blame onto her in the broader investigation into power sector corruption.
