The Anti-Corruption Commission has launched an inquiry into allegations of fraud and money laundering involving multinational tobacco company British American Tobacco (BAT), with the alleged amount exceeding USD 30 billion, or around Tk 3 lakh crore, over the past 55 years.
As part of the investigation, the state anti-graft agency has sent letters to several government offices seeking documents and information related to the allegations against the company.
Sources said the ACC recently decided at its headquarters to verify the allegations through a formal inquiry process.
ACC Deputy Director Md Aktarul Islam said the commission had sought information from various offices, including the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms, to uncover the facts surrounding the allegations.
“Legal action will be taken in accordance with the law if the allegations are proven after examining the documents,” he said.
According to the complaint submitted to the ACC, the Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC) began operations in Karachi following the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947 and later established two major factories in Chattogram and Dhaka.
After Bangladesh’s independence, the properties were legally supposed to become abandoned assets under government ownership, the complaint alleged.
It further claimed that PTC had already received substantial compensation from Karachi for the loss of those assets.
The complaint alleges that a syndicate led by former PTC finance manager Jamaluddin Ahmed, who later held a high-level position in the Bangladesh government, used fraud and political influence to facilitate the transfer of the state assets to British American Tobacco.
According to the allegations, Bangladesh suffered losses amounting to between USD 20 billion and USD 30 billion over the last 55 years as a result of the alleged fraud.
A BAT Bangladesh spokesperson said, "BAT Bangladesh has operated in the country for over 116 years and remains deeply committed to Bangladesh’s development as one of its leading taxpayers."
"We are aware of the matter through media reports and have not received any formal communication from the relevant authorities. If contacted through due process, BAT Bangladesh will cooperate fully in accordance with the law," he added.
