The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has initiated an investigation into allegations of corruption against Bangladesh’s cricket icon, Shakib Al Hasan. ACC Chairman Dr Mohammad Abdul Momen confirmed the development on Sunday (April 6) during a media briefing on current affairs. When journalists pointed out that Shakib Al Hasan had previously worked in an ACC advertisement and raised questions about the allegations against him, the ACC Chairman responded, “We fear that Shakib Al Hasan may also be an accused in our ongoing investigations.” Asked to elaborate on the basis of these fears, Dr Momen stated, “This is still at the investigative stage. We will have a clearer understanding once the investigation progresses.” Shakib Al Hasan’s association with the ACC began in 2018 when he was appointed as a brand ambassador for the commission. He also collaborated with the ACC during the launch of Hotline-106, a platform designed to address corruption complaints.
However, following allegations of irregularities, the ACC terminated its agreement with Shakib as a brand ambassador in 2022.
The investigation stems from a petition filed on August 28 last year by Supreme Court lawyer Milhanur Rahman Naomi, urging the ACC to probe multiple allegations of corruption and misconduct against the cricketer.
The charges include:
- Involvement in stock market scams.
- Links to banned gambling businesses and establishments.
- Participation in gold smuggling operations.
- Fraudulently embezzling funds from crab traders.
- Corruption in cricket-related activities.
- Concealing information about assets in election affidavits during his tenure as a Member of Parliament.
These allegations have placed Shakib under significant scrutiny, with calls for accountability growing louder.
In a related development, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), under Bangladesh Bank, announced the freezing of Shakib Al Hasan’s bank accounts on November 8 last year. This move was aimed at scrutinising his financial transactions amid the mounting allegations.
Shakib’s legal challenges extend beyond corruption allegations. On August 5 last year, a case was filed against former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and others, including Shakib, in connection with the murder of garment factory worker Md. Rubel in Adabor. The case was initiated by Rafiqul Islam, father of the deceased.
Following this, a lawyer issued a legal notice to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), demanding that Shakib be removed from the national team and brought back to Bangladesh to facilitate the investigation into the murder case.