TDS Desk:

Ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s adviser Salman F Rahman and S Alam Group Chairman Saiful Alam extorted around Tk10,000 crore from businessmen to finance the 2018 national election, commonly referred to as the “night-time voting” incident or “midnight election”, according to an internal police report.

The 456-page confidential police, parts of which have been obtained by journalists, has alleged that nearly Tk10,000 crore was extorted from business groups to facilitate the manipulation of votes.

According to the report, which was prepared after nearly six months of investigation by all police units and intelligence agencies under instructions from the interim government, the money was collected and distributed among various government agencies and individuals to ensure control over the electoral process.

It states that approximately Tk3,500 crore was spent on law enforcement agencies and administrative cadres.

Of the remaining funds, portions were allocated to several sectors, while a significant amount was misappropriated by leaders of the then-ruling Awami League. The report says that Tk1,000 crore was specifically paid to the police.

It also says that Saiful Alam, a businessman with close ties to the former ruling party, was assigned responsibility for raising funds for the election. A source cited in the report said he illegally collected around Tk8,000 crore and distributed the money among various agencies involved.

In the 2018 election, the government allocation stood at Tk966,72,76,196.

Outside of this officially declared amount, the Awami League government had raised Tk10,000 crore in donations and distributed nearly ten times that amount among various government agencies and individuals.

In the election then, the government’s allocation for election-related law enforcement expenditure alone was Tk666,06,33,517.

The report also includes details of financial transactions and identifies individuals involved in the process. However, no official charges have yet been announced in connection with the findings.

Authorities have yet to publicly comment on the report.

More to follow..