The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) enforcement team has uncovered a Fixed Deposit Receipt (FDR) at IFIC Bank in the name of the Center for Research and Information (CRI), a prominent think tank linked to political activities in Bangladesh.

ACC Director General (Prevention) Md Akhter Hossain revealed the findings during a press briefing at the ACC headquarters, confirming that the raid was part of an ongoing investigation into the misuse of state funds by CRI. The team had attempted to conduct the raid at CRI’s office but found it closed.

The investigation has so far led to the discovery of several banking records from institutions including Dutch-Bangla Bank, IFIC Bank, and Sonali Bank. The ACC found an FDR of Tk 35.21 crore at IFIC Bank, in addition to transaction records from Sonali Bank related to CRI.

The ACC’s probe, prompted by confidential sources, indicates that the CRI’s Board of Directors misused state resources for implementing political agendas. Among those implicated are CRI Chairman Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed (also known as Sajeeb Wazed Joy), Vice-Chairman Saima Wazed Putul, and trustees Radwan Mujib Siddiq and Nasrul Hamid. These individuals were reportedly connected to the FDR, raising further questions about the use of public funds in politically motivated projects.