The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) of Bangladesh has filed four major corruption cases against Tarique Ahmed Siddique, the former Security Advisor to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, alongside 19 other individuals accused of embezzling BDT 8.12 billion. The charges stem from fraudulent activities in airport development projects across the country, implicating high-ranking government officials, including Mohibul Haque, the former senior secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, and M. Mofidur Rahman, the former chairman of the Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA).

On January 27, ACC Director General (Prevention), Md. Akhter Hossain, detailed the extensive corruption scheme at a press briefing in Dhaka. The scandal, which spans over a period of 15 years, centers on the collusion of various officials in the misappropriation of public funds intended for the development of vital airport infrastructure. The embezzlement allegedly occurred under the guise of essential development projects at three of the country’s primary airports: Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, Osmani International Airport in Sylhet, and Cox’s Bazar International Airport.

The first case revolves around the “Installation of Radar with CNS-ATM” project at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka. This project, designed to upgrade the airport’s air traffic control system, saw the engagement of French company Thales LAS France SAS as the supplier for the radar systems. However, the ACC’s investigation revealed several irregularities in the awarding process. The radar supplier was contracted on a government-to-government (G2G) basis, bypassing the standard competitive bidding procedures.

Aeroness International Limited, a company allegedly linked to Tarique Siddique through his close associate Mahbubul Alam, was also involved as a local agent. The irregularities became evident when the project, originally intended for........

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