Several projects were initiated under the names of fascists Sheikh Hasina and her family members with the aim of embezzling money.
In the last 15 years, 82 development projects totaling over 51 thousand crore taka were launched under the Sheikh family's name across different ministries. Of these, 11 projects were specifically in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, with a financial worth of several thousand crore taka.
If any project in this sector carried the Sheikh family's name, it was approved without question. The budgets were also generously handled, with frequent increases. Additionally, audits of these projects were prohibited by orders from the highest level of government.
Internal investigations within the ICT department revealed these facts, which were carried out under the direction of the ICT advisor, Md. Nahid Islam.
Among the projects taken under the names of Sheikh family members were the Bangabandhu Satellite named after Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the High-Tech Park, and an IT training center named after Sheikh Kamal, the Sheikh Russel Digital Lab, the Sheikh Hasina Institute, and several others.
Recently, the names of all the Sheikh family-associated projects in the ICT sector were changed. Additionally, unnecessary and unreasonable costs were cut.
According to the ICT division, 82 development projects worth over 51 thousand crore taka were undertaken in the past 15 years. Of these, 38 projects have been completed, while the remaining 44 are ongoing.
As part of this, in 2017, a Software Technology Park was built in Jashore under fascist Sheikh Hasina's name, with an expenditure of 305 crore taka. However, the objectives for which the park was established were not fulfilled, and the park is not serving any purpose. It is continuously incurring losses, and to mitigate the losses, social events, including weddings, are being held at the park.
In 2022, an IT Business Incubator was inaugurated at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology under the name of Sheikh Kamal, with a cost of 117 crore taka. However, after two years, the incubator has not generated much response, and the building, computers, and dormitories remain largely unused.
The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib High-Tech Park in Sylhet is also in poor condition. Although the Sylhet High-Tech Park was launched last year with the aim of supporting ICT, telecommunications, and ICT-based industries, the companies that have been allotted land there are mostly from the electronics, hotel, and restaurant sectors.
ICT department officials have stated that under various projects, Sheikh Russel Digital Labs have been set up in 9,000 educational institutions across the country. Similarly, efforts are underway to establish training centers and incubation centers under the name of Sheikh Kamal.
According to the sources, former ministers Mustafa Jabbar and Zunaid Ahmed Palak directly supervised the implementation of these projects. A majority of the 11 projects saw their budgets inflated several times, and financial guidelines were ignored. Since the projects were linked to Sheikh family's name, no one dared to raise any questions. Officials who raised doubts about the need for these projects were labeled as anti-Awami League and later faced transfers or were denied promotions. Around 25 such officials are said to have been affected, according to the ICT division.
ICT Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury told Bangladesh Pratidin that six of the 11 projects were still ongoing. The names of all of them have been changed, and the department's investigation committee has reported that 6,900 crore taka was saved from these projects. Additionally, 175 million dollars were withdrawn from one of the projects. The projects under the Sheikh family were found to be the most corrupt.
Regarding the name change, he said, "Previously it was Sheikh Russell IT Training Center. Now, it has been renamed as Bangladesh IT Training Center. Similarly, the names of Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Kamal, and Sheikh Jamal have all been removed. In other words, 'Bangladesh' or 'ICT Division' has been added in place of their names."
At present, the ICT division's ongoing projects, which have now been renamed, include the nationwide Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center, the Sheikh Russell Digital Lab installation ( second phase), and the construction of the primary infrastructure for the Sheikh Hasina Institute of Frontier Technologies.
(Translated by Afia Nanjiba Ibnat)
